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The Bright Side 
of Memphis*^ 




A Compendium of Information Concern 
ing the Colored People of Memphis, 
Tennessee, Showing Their Achievements 
in Business, Industrial and Professional 
Life and Including Articles of General 
Interest on the Race ® ® ® ® ® ® 




By G . P . HAMILTON 

PRINCIPAL of KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 



MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE * * * * 1908 





















LIBRARY of COI!C-R£SS 
Two Copies Received 

ptC 2ci 

Copyri^nt Entry 

/ ^ v ' < ill C jots 

CLASS (A KXOi No. 


Copyright, 1908 



G. P. Hamilton 

















dedication 



T O the memory of the dearest 
and best friend of his youth 
and the consolation of his maturer 
years; to the dear one whose only 
thought while living seems to have 
been how to promote his welfare; 
to the one who struggled without 
complaint and sacrificed in every 
possible way that the blessings of 
education might be his to enjoy; 
to one who was nearly a stranger 
to sleep and fatigue in her anxiety 
to make secure the happiness of 
her son; to the memory of that 
dear mother now asleep in death 
—that mother whose love was 
beyond the understanding of oth¬ 
ers and now continues a bene¬ 
diction to his life; to the memory 
of her who in life was Mrs. Laura 
Hamilton, this book is affection¬ 
ately dedicated. 

— THE AUTHOR 
































PREFACE 


HE author is a native of Memphis, and thus may be 
pardoned for manifesting any unusual interest in the 
city’s welfare. He believes that the city of Memphis 
has a great future and that its colored population will 
share in whatever degree of prosperity may fall to its 
lot. The colored population of Memphis is probably 
the fourth largest in the United States, and is in 
position to do great things toward promoting the city’s growth and 
prosperity. 

As a rule, the bright side of the Colored Race is not given its due 
share of publicity to the world. Its mistakes, misfortunes, weak¬ 
nesses, and crimes are minutely published, while its abilities and 
worthy achievements are too often overlooked and unmentioned. It 
is justice to any people to set their virtues over against their vices 
that the world may see both sides of their character. The colored 
race needs inspiration just as other races and there is nothing more 
inspiring to a people than their good achievements and worthy lives. 
It is left to the colored people themselves to show to the world what 
they are doing and what they are capable of doing to promote the 
welfare of society. It is left to them to publish the deeds that do 
them honor. 

This book is published in honor of the thousands of honest, in¬ 
dustrious and law-abiding colored citizens of Memphis, who aspire 
to everything that is worthy in citizenship and who are doing their 
part in the onward march of civilization. It gives to the world an 
exposition of what the colored people of Memphis are doing along 
the line of skilled labor, business and professional life. It does not 
contain the names of all that are worthy of mention in this volume, 
for there is such a plentitude of eligible material that the mention of 
all would increase the size and cost of this book to proportions be¬ 
yond the reach of the masses of the people for whom it is designed 
to benefit. 

The author has endeavored to give to the world the bright side 
of Memphis, and he hopes that this volume will be.an inspiration to 
the colored people of Memphis to try to make their lives brighter 
and brighter, until the perfect day. The Author. 









TABLE of CONTENTS 


PART I. Page 

A Colored Girl the Champion Speller . .. 81 

Business Opportunities for the Colored People . 15 

Cemeteries Owned By Colored People . . . .... 18 

Colored Hospitals and Infirmaries . 21 

Colored Institutions of Charity . 20 

Colored Lawyers of Memphis . 59 

Colored Man as a Government Employe . 81 

Colored Ministers of the Gospel . 22 

Colored Physicians of Memphis . 26 

Colored Teachers of Memphis . 76 

Cost of Living in Memphis... 5 

Crime Among the Colored People .. 7 

Doctors of Dental Surgery . 55 

Does the U. S. Government Encourage the Patriotism of the Colored Man?. . 86 

Educational Advantages for the Colored People.. 12 

Health of the Colored People of Memphis . 2 

Historic Location of Memphis . 2 

How to Safeguard the Welfare of Our Young People . 84 

Kind of Education for Colored People . 89 

Mild Climate of Memphis ...... 2 

Origin of the Name of Memphis . 1 

Opportunities of the Colored People for Employment . 10 

Parks for Colored People . 19 

Political Rights of the Colored People . 24 

Public School Facts of Interest .... 77 

Real Estate Owned By Colored People . 7 

Relationship Between the Races . 9 

Sanitary System of Memphis.. 6 

Secret Societies Among the Colored People . 82 

Solvent Savings Bank . 91 

Water Supply of Memphis ... 6 

Young People of Our Race..'. 79 


PART II. 


Page 


Arrangers and Composers. 

Artists . 

Bakers . 

Banks and Bankers . 

Bank Porters . 

Barbers . 

Baths . 

Beale Avenue Market . 

Bicycle Repairers . 

Blacksmiths . 

Boarding Houses . 

Boiler Makers . 

Bookkeepers . 

Brass Bands . 

Brick Masons and Contractors . . 

Broom Makers . 

Butchers . 

Cabinet Makers . 

Kalsomining . 

Candy Makers . 

Carpenters and Contractors .... 

Carpet Layers... 

Cateresses . 

Cemeteries . 

Chauffeurs . 

Chefs .. 

Chiropodists . 

Churches . 

Cigar Makers . 

Cleaning, Pressing and Repairing 

Clerks. 

Clubs ... 

Coal and Wood. 

Coffee Roasters . 

Confectioners . 

Coopers . 

Corset Makers . 

Cotton Samplers . 

Dairymen . 

Dental Surgeons’ Cards. 

Doctors’ Cards . 

Dresss Makers . 

Drug Stores. 

Electricians . 

Engineers—Licensed . 

Engineers . 

Expressmen . 


95 

97 

97 

99 

104 

105 
112 
113 

113 

114 
117 
117 

117 

118 
119 
121 
121 
124 
124 

124 

125 
133 
135 

135 

136 
136 
138 
138 

167 

168 

170 

171 

172 

173 

173 

174 
174 
174 
176 

176 

177 
182 
186 
188 

189 

190 

191 


















































































CONTENTS—PART II.—(Continued.) 


Federal Building .. 

Memphis Postoffice Department ... 

Feed Stores . 

Foremen . 

Fraternal and Benevolent Societies . 

Fraternity Men . 

Furniture Dealers . 

Furniture Repairers and Upholsterers 

Glaziers . 

Granolith and Concrete. 

Grocers . 

Gun and Locksmiths . 

Hack Owners . 

Hair Dressers . 

Halls . 

Harness Makers . 

Hatters . 

Head Waiters . 

1-Iorseshoers . 

Hospitals .. 

Hotels . 

House Movers .. 

Ice Cream Factories . 

Ice Salesmen .. 

Inspectors of Lumber.. 

Infirmaries . 

Insurance .. 

Janitors of Churches . 

Janitors—Miscellaneous.. 

Jewelers and Watchmakers. 

Junk Dealers .. 

Lace and Silk Cleaning . 

Landscape Gardeners . 

Lathers . 

Lawyers’ Cards. 

Loans .. 

Magistrates . 

Mantel and Tile Setters . 

Marble Workers. 

Mattress Workers . 

Milliners . 

Millwrights . 

Music Teachers. 

Newspapers . 

Notaries Public. 

Orchestras . .. 

Organ Repairer and Builder . 

Owners of Moving Vans .. 

Packers . 

Painters and Decorators . 

Parks . 

Piermen—Sand Hogs . 

Pharmacists . 

Photographers . 

Plasterers . 

Plumbers . 

Presiding Elders . 

Printers . 

Private Schools .. 

Professional Nurses . 

Public Library . 

Public Schools .. 

Railway Postal Clerks ... 

Real Estate .. 

Rectifiers of Distilled Spirits . 

Restaurants and Cafes . 

Sawyers and Re-Sawyers . 

School Janitors . 

Shoe Makers .. 

Shoe Shining Parlors. 

Shoe Stores .... 

Stenographers . 

Stewards . 

Stockkeepers . 

Stone Cutters . 

Stove Repairers . 

Superintendents . 

Tailors . 

Theatres . 

Tinners . 

Undertakers . 

Weavers . 

Wood Machinists .. 

Addenda . 


Page 
... 195 
... .197 
... 204 
... 206 
.. . 207 
.. . 210 
... 212 
... 213 
... 213 
. . . 214 
. . . 215 
... 219 
... 219 
... 220 
... 223 
... 223 
... 223 
... 224 
... 226 
... 226 
... 226 
. . . 227 
. . . 227 
. . . 227 
. . . 227 
. . . 228 
. . . 228 
... 229 
-.. 230 
. . . 231 
.. . 231 
. .. 232 
. . . 232 
. . . 232 
... 233 
... 234 
. . . 234 
. .. 235 
. . . 235 
. . . 235 
. . . 236 
. . . 236 
... 236 
... 237 
. . . 238 
. . . 239 
. . . 239 
. . . 240 
... 241 
... 242 
. .. 244 
. . . 244 
... 244 
. 245 
... 245 
... 246 
... 248 
. . . 253 
. .. 254 
... 259 
... 261 
... 261 
. . . 267 
... 267 
... 268 
... 268 
... 269 
. . . 270 
. .. 270 
... 272 
. . . 272 
... 272 
. . . 272 
. .. 273 
. . . 273 
....273 
... 275 
... 275 
... 276 
... 276 
... 276 
... 280 
... 280 
281-294 






















































































THE BRIGHT SIDE of 
MEMPHIS 


PART I. 


Origin of the Name of Memphis. 

Away back in ancient times, in the very dawn of civilization, and 
nearly five thousand years ago,, there was a great city on the banks 
of the Nile, in Africa, called Memphis. It was one of the greatest 
cities in the history of the world. It was a walled city with a hun¬ 
dred great gates and a vast population. It was located in an alluvial 
plain, whose fertility made it the granary of the ancient world. It 
was the metropolis and capital of the old Egyptian Empire, and 
eminently worthy of the wealth and glory of a great world empire. 
Its mighty armies invaded and conquered every land and a hundred 
great nations paid tribute and homage to its military genius and 
power. Though many centuries have elapsed since the glory of 
this proud city departed and its towering walls fell to the earth, 
never to be raised again, yet there still remain as mute testimonials 
to its former greatness the mighty obelisks, gigantic statues, and 
lofty pyramids built by its kings to perpetuate their memory. 

To the colored people of Memphis it may be some degree of sat¬ 
isfaction to know that the name of Memphis is of African origin. 
No doubt the earliest settlers that pitched their tents in the virgin 
forests on the high bluffs in West Tennessee, overlooking the Father 
of Waters, saw in this mighty inland stream a resemblance to the 
Nile in Africa and decided to found on its banks a city that would 
revive the glory of that ancient metropolis on the Nile. So they 
laid out on the banks of the Mississippi river a city and called it 
Memphis and this very city, provided no mishap befalls it, seems 
destined to rival in commercial importance and glory the hundred¬ 
gated city on the Nile after which it was named. 




2 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Historic Location of Memphis. 

The city of Memphis is located near a spot that is very famous in 
history. In the year 1541, near the present site of Memphis, Her¬ 
nando DeSoto, a bold and adventurous Spanish explorer, while lead¬ 
ing an army of his countrymen through the dense forests of the 
great American valley, first beheld with awe-stricken eyes a majestic 
and mighty inland stream coursing its winding way to the Southern 
Sea. This great stream he called the Mississippi River. To empha¬ 
size how singularly the life of DeSoto is connected with the name of 
the great river that he discovered it is only necessary to relate that 
DeSoto died in a few months after the discovery of the Mississippi 
river, and was buried beneath the waters of the river whose discovery 
has given him undying fame. Two streets in Memphis were named 
after the famous explorer, viz., Hernando and DeSoto streets. 

The Mild Climate of Memphis. 

Many favorable conditions make the climate of Memphis mild. 
It is situated about 35 degrees north of the equator and this location 
prevents any great extremes of climate. It is not so far toward the 
South as to be affected by any great amount of tropical heat, nor so 
far toward the North as to feel the blighting effects of cold. Its eleva¬ 
tion above the sea-level is a little less than three hundred feet. The 
city of Memphis was never known seriously to suffer from the effects 
of any violent cyclone or storm. Localities far and near suffer the 
ravages of violent storms, but Memphis seems to enjoy immunity 
from all violent and destructive commotions of the atmosphere. The 
fact is, there are regular storm paths in which storms may be ex¬ 
pected at any time. It seems that Memphis is located just outside 
the path of storms, and consequently never receives their full force 
and violence. 

The Health of the Colored People of Memphis. 

Nothing can be of greater importance to the welfare of a com¬ 
munity than the conditions governing the health of its citizens. The 
question first asked about a community by the man contemplating 
moving into it is concerning its healthfulness; and it has always been 
a significant inquiry in the case of Memphis, which was so long con¬ 
spicuous for the prevalence of epidemics of a contagious and in¬ 
fectious character. Up to the last two decades the name of Memphis 
was a synonym for disease, and the very idea of locating in Memphis 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


3 


was considered with horror. Even today this feeling has not entirely 
disappeared from the minds of those unacquainted with the real 
health conditions of Memphis. 

Statistics show that the per cent of mortality among the colored 
people of the South is much higher than among the white people of 
this same section. The death rate among the white people of Mem¬ 
phis is less than 10 per cent of the white population; but among the 
colored people the per cent of mortality is much higher. The vital 
question is: Why is there such a difference between the death rate 
of the two races? As the ancestors of the colored people lived in a 
tropical climate it would seem that the advantage of climate would 
be with the colored people of the South, and that the death rate 
among them would be less than among those whose ancestors came 
from a colder climate. 

In a general way climate has much to do with the health of an in¬ 
dividual; but habit and environment have even much more to do 
with the broad question of health. There is no marked difference in 
the longevity of the two races and it is probable that under similar 
conditions of habit and environment the length of life of both races 
would not materially differ. Education has a great bearing upon the 
habits of an individual and thus directly affects the health. A person 
unacquainted with the laws of health does not know when he is vio¬ 
lating those laws and sowing the seeds of disease and death. It is 
thus evident that a lack of education and careful home training 
among the colored people is largely responsible for the great amount 
of sickness and the high per cent of mortality among them. 

Poverty among the colored people is the cause of sickness, disease 
and death. It cannot be denied that the circumstances of the colored 
people are not favorable when considered as a whole. Many are not 
able to provide for themselves the ordinary comforts of life. Large 
families are born and reared in the narrow confines of a room and 
kitchen, where improper ventilation alone often works terrible in¬ 
jury to the health. Insufficient clothing in winter, want of whole¬ 
some food, and lack of prompt and efficient medical treatment when 
sick are some of the conditions that militate against the health of the 
colored people. In all of the larger cities a great number of colored 
people are forced by their poverty to live in back alleys, tenements 
and arks. The grasping cupidity of the land owners causes them to 
build houses in swamps, over bayous, and in the most unhealthy 
places for accommodation of those whom poverty alone forces to 


4 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


accept such quarters. It would be something akin to the miraculous 
if people could breath in health from the noxious gases of bayous 
and back alleys and wax fat and strong amid, such environments. 

It is with profound regret that we notice the alarming prevalence 
of consumption and other forms of pulmonary disease among the 
colored people of Memphis. An examination of the mortuary re¬ 
cord in the columns of the Sunday papers will reveal the fact that 
lung diseases are making serious inroads in our ranks. In fact it is 
now predicted by some bearing the weight of medical authority that 
it is merely a matter of time when the whole colored race will be 
destroyed by the great plague of consumption. Furthermore it is 
advised that the general employment of colored people as house¬ 
hold servants be, to a great extent, restricted, as their consumptive 
tendency is considered a menace to the health of the white race. 

There was a time in this country when the colored people, as a 
whole, were free from the ravages of the great white plague. In 
fact, they were supposed to be exempt from such a disease as con¬ 
sumption, and only the white people were considered eligible to 
make the acquaintance of this destructive malady. Why this great 
change ? Why is it that the colored race, which formerly was exempt 
from consumption, is now its chief victim? This is a serious question 
and is of vital importance to the thinking men of both races. If con¬ 
sumption can be prevented by proper hygienic measures it is the 
duty of the state to exhaust every resource in order to enforce these 
measures. No man should be permitted to die because of the failure 
of the state to do its whole duty; for the life of every citizen in the 
State is what constitutes the State. If the prediction be in any dan¬ 
ger of fulfillment that consumption will eventually destroy the whole 
colored race, the dictates of humanity should arouse the white race 
to strive with all its might to avert such a calamity. Fate seems to 
have decreed that the strong must bear the infirmities of the weak 
and for this reason, if no other, the white race must safeguard the 
welfare of the colored race and save it from destruction by this 
terrible disease. 

The City of Memphis is a reasonably healthy city, as may be seen 
by the low death rate among the white people; and there is no reason 
why the colored people should have such a high death rate if proper 
sanitary, hygienic and right-living methods are used by them. If 
indiscreet living and reckless disregard of the laws of health are the 
great causes of sickness, disease and death among the colored people 
it is the duty of the State to look well to the remedy. The buildings in 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


5 


which they are forced by circumstances to live must be better con¬ 
structed and ventilated. The alleys of our city should not be con¬ 
gested with poor people living in poverty and abject squalor. The 
big tenement houses and arks must be built to accommodate human 
beings with souls and not dumb-driven cattle. Wherever people are 
forced to live in great masses the sanitary conditions should be per¬ 
fect. No noxious gases from decayed vegetable matter or sewage 
should be permitted to scatter their disease-breeding germs among 
the people, and the drinking waters must be health-giving instead 
of life-destroying. If intemperance in the use of alcoholic drinks, 
or the use of cocaine, or vice in any form be the cause of this whole¬ 
sale destruction of the colored race the strong arm of the State must 
be called into requisition to save the race from self-inflicted 
extermination. 


The Cost of Living in Memphis. 

There is a natural connection between wages and the cost of 
living in any place. It is a general rule that wherever wages are 
good the cost of living is proportionately greater. In Memphis both 
skilled and unskilled labor receives a scale of wages in some respects 
higher than in any other city in the South. This scale of wages has 
increased the cost of living to proportions that are serious. Every¬ 
thing in Memphis is high. House rent is high, provisions and cloth¬ 
ing are high, water is high in the spring time and even pure air for 
breathing purposes is up high. 

In some respects Memphis is a paradise for the man in search of 
work and good wages; but we would not do the situation justice if 
we did not emphasize the fact that every workingman will have to 
pay dearly for his opportunities. The item of expense must be 
reckoned with on every hand. Nothing is free in Memphis but 
salvation for the soul, and there would be a price put on salvation 
if the irrepressible middle man could get in his works with the 
Almighty. Thousands of colored people from the country districts 
yearly come to Memphis in search of better wages and more pros¬ 
perous conditions. They find the better wages, of course, but they 
also find the great item of expense which swallows down its cavern¬ 
ous throat nearly every nickel that they can earn and in the end 
their condition is not materially better than it was in their rural 
homes. That is the reason why there are so many poor colored 
people in Memphis living from hand to mouth, and existing on public 
charity. 


6 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


The Water Supply of Memphis. 

Nothing affects the health of a community for better or worse 
more than the character of its drinking water. Twenty-five years 
ago the people of Memphis drank either the water of surface wells 
or the muddy waters of Wolf river. Anyone that knows the harmful 
effects of bad water would readily see how the health of the citizens 
of Memphis was imperiled by such bad water as they were com¬ 
pelled to use. Finally the health of the city became so precarious 
that it became absolutely necessary to improve its water supply and 
sanitary conditions. Scourge after scourge of pestilential diseases 
had stricken the city, destroyed its population and brought desola¬ 
tion and woe to thousands of its citizens. Driven to this extremity 
the people had either to improve their sanitary conditions or die. 
Necessity is the mother of both invention and resolution. So our 
engineers and scientific men decided to penetrate and explore the 
earth’s surface underneath the city of Memphis and note the charac¬ 
ter and abundance of its water. Finally this was done, and the re¬ 
sult was satisfactory to the extreme; for a great subterranean reser¬ 
voir of bright, sparkling, pure water was found, affording an inex¬ 
haustible supply for the city of Memphis and giving it the greatest 
artesian water system in the world. 

The Sanitary System of Memphis. 

Memphis enjoys the distinction of being one of the model cities 
of the world in point of sanitation, and civil engineers and scientists 
from all over the world have come to Memphis to investigate and 
study the workings of its sanitary system. The ideal system of sanita¬ 
tion peculiar to Memphis was a problem worked out by dire necessity. 
In order to rescue Memphis forever from the ravages of yellow 
fever and other scourges in the form of disease, it was necessary 
to put into operation a complete sewage. This was begun in the 
early eighties in the administration of Dr. D. C. Porter and under the 
supervision of one of the most famous engineers of the world—Col. 
Waring. Millions of dollars have been spent in extending this sys¬ 
tem in order to meet the demands of a growing population. In 
addition the city of Memphis has an up-to-date crematory system for 
the disposal of all trash and garbage. We have already written 
at length concerning our water supply. These three great systems 
combined give the city of Memphis an ideal sanitary system and the 
people of Memphis can enjoy immunity from the prevalence of dan¬ 
gerous epidemic diseases. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


7 


Real Estate Owned By Colored People. 

It is very gratifying to note the increased interest manifested by 
the colored people in the ownership of real estate. There is no ma¬ 
terial progress without ownership of the soil and a man is not con¬ 
sidered a substantial citizen in the strictest application of the term 
unless he owns a part of the soil. It is regrettable that no figures 
are obtainable showing what per cent of the colored population of 
Memphis own their homes. The taxable property lists do not show 
the race of the owner, and it is impossible to do anything else but 
speculate on the matter. It is a fact, however, that the colored peo¬ 
ple of Klondike, in Northeast Memphis, own at least 95 per cent of 
the land, and that in New Chicago, the colored people own a con¬ 
siderable part of the land. Among all classes the idea of owning a 
home is becoming a matter of paramount importance. In some 
parts of Memphis whole subdivisions are being abandoned by the 
white people and bought up by the ambitious and thrifty classes of 
colored people who are anxious to improve the property they pur¬ 
chase arid maintain the respectability and tone of the neighborhood. 

Every encouragement is given to the colored people to induce 
them to own their homes; for it is to the interest of any community 
that its citizens be men of personal responsibility, instead of ma¬ 
rauding Gypsies. Small payments like rent, covering long periods 
of time, are within the reach of nearly every colored man desiring a 
home. At the rate at which property increases in value from year 
to year, any piece of property bought at a reasonable value may 
be expected to be worth more than the purchase price in a few years. 
Many an old, despised lot has, in the course of a few years, become 
a veritable gold mine, and the happy owner congratulated himself 
because fate had done for him what he could not do for himself. 

Crime Among the Colored People. 

It is not a pleasant task to write at length on the dark and dis¬ 
couraging phases of human life; yet this must be done if we would 
truly depict life. Life has its dark as well as its bright side. It 
is a combination of light and darkness, sunshine and cloud, joy and 
misery and that man is the true philosopher that best understands 
life in all its phases, and adjusts the sails of his human craft to ad¬ 
verse as well as favorable winds, so that they may bear him safe to 
his journey ’s end. 


8 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


We regret to say that there is crime among the colored people of 
Memphis and we believe that there is too much crime in Memphis. 
The most heinous and diabolical crimes are usually committed on 
Sundays and this fact alone seems to demonstrate the truth of the 
old adage that an idle brain is the devil’s workship. Why the holy 
Sabbath should be turned into lawlessness and crime is beyond the 
bounds of our knowledge. The Sabbath day, instead of being made 
holy, is picked out as a day for revelry and riotousness. The sanc¬ 
tuaries of God are deserted for the pleasure gardens, the base ball 
park, and the gay and fleeting pleasures of social life. We do not 
know whither we are drifting, but we fear the visitation of divine 
wrath unless we mend our evil ways and turn our unholy feet back 
into the paths trod by our sainted mothers and fathers. 

The major portion of the crimes committed in Memphis is by 
the young people of the colored race. The magistrate courts are 
kept working over time grinding out fines and inflicting penalties on 
our people, and a host of pettifoggers are stirring up strife and fat¬ 
tening on the litigation and criminal acts of our people. These 
human harpies are a great hindrance and curse to the progress of the 
colored race. 

The colored race is not instinctively criminal. Only a small 
per cent of them violate the laws of the land. The unfortunate weak¬ 
ness of many of them is the tendency toward a violent and ungovern¬ 
able temper which often manifests itself on the slightest provocation. 
This weakness is especially noticeable in the young people of school 
age, and no doubt explains the reason why countless quarrels and 
fights arise among them. It is apparent to all that if this disposition 
in the child is not restrained or rooted out altogether there is possi¬ 
bility of serious crime in later life. Many of such crimes as assault 
and battery and even manslaughter are due to this violence of tem¬ 
per rather than to any criminal inclination on the part of the colored 
people. 

It is doubtful just why the colored people as a whole have such a 
violent temper. It is probably a matter of climate; for people in 
tropical latitudes are more warlike than people in other climates. 
In the Central and South American tropical countries a miniature 
war and rebellion may be pulled off any morning before breakfast 
and in the afternoon the languid natives will be taking their siestas 
as though nothing had happened. We have given this matter very 
careful thought and we have come to the conclusion that the kind of 
meat most generally eaten by the colored people has a great deal to 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


9 


do with their health and their tempers. It is a fact tha£ can be sub¬ 
stantiated by most dealers in meats that the colored people generally 
eat pork meat. The pork chop is eaten plentifully to the exclusion 
of beef and mutton, which are considered more nutritious as foods. 
The physiological effects of pork meat on the human system are 
dangerous in the extreme, and it is not at all surprising that the 
man whose system is charged with the elements from pork meat 
should feel like fighting even his best friend. So it is our belief that 
much of the crime committed by the colored may be attributed to 
pork meat. 

Another conditon has tended to increase crime in Memphis. For 
years the city was popularly known as a wide open town and nearly 
every form of dissipation and vice flourished. It was the Mecca for 
every bad man from Timbuctoo to Kalamazoo and shared with 
Chicago and New York the reputation of being one of the toughest 
cities in America. But Memphis is no more a wide open town. Civic 
righteousness instead of wickedness prevails. The Sunday slaughter 
of human life has ceased and the liquor and gambling evils that 
once cursed our city have been put under wholesome restrictions or 
suppressed and Memphis is no more in the lime light in the centre of 
an unholy stage. 

The Relationship Between the Races. 

It is the pastime of many sensationalists to write about the 
strained relations between the two races in the South. They seem 
to like to dwell upon the irrepressible conflict that is bound to occur 
between the two races and the utter annihilation of the one race by 
the other. It may be that our prophetic vision is short, but we freely 
confess that we do not share in this apprehension concerning the 
inevitable conflict that is going to come between the two races in 
the South. They have lived together nearly three centuries and 
neither race has tried to destroy the other. 

The relationship between the two races in Memphis is as friendly 
and cordial as can be reasonably expected. Occasionally there may 
be rash and intemperate men of both races who, if not restrained by 
the conservative element, would possibly try to jeopardize • this 
friendly relationship and cause unnecessary friction and strife; but 
the great majority of both races are sincerely desirous of peace. 
There is no valid reason why both races should not get along in per¬ 
fect concord. Both are well acquanted with the other and have lived 
side by side in this Southland for nearly three centuries toiling, re- 


10 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


joicing and ^sorrowing in a common cause to promote its growth 
and prosperity. Here the present members of both races were born 
and here lie the bleached bones and sacred ashes of their ancestors. 
Both love the green hills and sunny skies of this Southland, and as 
long as liberty and justice are enthroned in the hearts of the good 
men of both races there will not be any serious menace to the cordial 
relationship between the two races. It is our opinion that the 
natural tendency of all reasonable men is in the direction of peace 
and harmony; that this tendency is characteristic of all men of both 
races alike; and that whenever discord or strife has arisen this 
natural tendency has been driven from its regular channel by forces 
that are hostile to the real interests of both races. 

In thousands of instances there are evidences of the strongest at¬ 
tachment and friendship between the two races. The noble Im¬ 
pulses of humanity are not always restrained by the color of one’s 
skin. The colored man that is industrious, honest, faithful and re¬ 
liable will oftener find in his white neighbor or employer a staunch 
friend rather than an enemy; and the white man that shows appre¬ 
ciation for the real worth of the colored man and interest in his 
welfare will find in the colored man a grateful, appreciative, and 
lasting friend. 

It would astonish some people who can never dream of anything 
but friction and hatred between the two races to know how strong 
the bond of friendship between them really is. It is all moonshine 
and demagogy to picture the two races as being engaged in never- 
ending conflict. There is hardly a worthy colored man in Memphis 
that has not some white friend that would go his last length to pro¬ 
tect and safeguard the welfare of the colored man; and there are 
very few white men in the South that do not command the friend¬ 
ship and loyalty of some colored man. Friendship makes the whole 
world akin and in the time of trouble and misfortune causes people 
to forget such trivial things as color and prejudice and to regard 
man as man’s brother. 

Opportunities of the Colored People for Employment. 

The opportunities of the colored people for making a living in 
Memphis are infinite. It is a wonderful city, teeming with oppor¬ 
tunities and no honest and industrious man need suffer for lack of 
something to do. All that is necessary for any willing worker to do 
is to roll up his sleeves and go to w T ork and enjoy the fruits of his 
honest sweat. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


11 


For several months it was the privilege of the author to visit 
factories and plants of every character and note with his own eyes 
just what the opportunities of the colored people really are along 
the line of employment; and the results of his observations were as 
astonishing as they were gratifying. His investigations were par¬ 
ticularly directed along the line of skilled labor, as he had had for 
several years a yearning for such information. He visited the candy 
factories and found some of their most efficient and reliable work¬ 
men colored men. In one of the factories the foreman is a colored 
man of intelligence and culture, Mr. Charles Taylor, and practically 
the whole working force are colored men. Very much the same 
may be said of the other candy factories in Memphis. Mr. James 
Wooten, Donald Hayden, Chas. Taylor and many other have been 
creditably identified for years with the candy making business and 
enjoy the confidence of their employers. Possibly the oldest candy 
maker in Memphis and the pioneer in that business is Mr. Charles 
Morton, who has made candy for nearly 45 years. 

The author visited the broom factories and found some of their 
most expert operatives to be colored men. He found similar con¬ 
ditions in the mattress factories. It is hardly probable that two 
more efficient mattress makers than Maurice Larry and Garnett 
Hopkins can be found in the whole country; and there are others 
quite as skillful in the same line of work. The author visited several 
blacksmith and horse-shoeing shops and found no one white except 
the proprietor. In the great lumber yards he found many colored 
men holding the most responsible positions and that not a foot of 
lumber is carried out of these yards without their inspection. He 
visited the slaughter houses and found the veteran butchers to be 
colored. At one of the largest slaughter houses he found a colored 
man the foreman, Mr. Fred Smith, a very kind and courteous gen¬ 
tleman. He found that many of the engineers running the various 
plants are colored men of experience and ability. In many of the 
best white tailoring establishments may be found first-class colored 
tailors doing everything that is to be done in that business. With¬ 
out further elaboration it may be repeated that the results of the 
author’s observations were as astonishing as they were gratifying. 

It is quite probable that no part of the great northern section of 
this country gives to the colored man such great opportunities along 
the lines of skilled labor. It is a common occurrence for colored 
contractors to erect buildings for white people, notwithstanding 
fierce competition from white contractors of ability who feel that 


12 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


racial considerations alone entitle them to the work. In the laying 
of brick and the erection of buildings in general skilled workmen 
of both races work side by side and no serious objection is maide; 
but in most parts of the north such a spectacle as the two races 
working together would possibly excite riot and blood shed. 

It is very doubtful if there is a* city in the world that presents 
greater opportunities to the colored people for gainful and honor¬ 
able employment than the city of Memphis in the western part of 
Tennessee. 

Educational Advantages for the Colored People. 

The opportunity to make a living takes precedence over every 
other opportunity. It matters not in what part of the wide world 
a man may be he must have bread. He may girdle the globe and 
see the seven wonders of the world but they alone will not keep 
him alive. He must eat to live and therefore must have an oppor¬ 
tunity to work. Next in importance to the opportunity to make a 
living is the opportunity to educate one’s children. No people 
should lightly value the opportunities which the State provides for 
the education of their children. Intelligence is one of the great de¬ 
mands of enlightened citizenship and it is the bounden duty of 
every citizen to see to it that the education of his children may 
not be neglected in order that they may be an honor and not a 
curse to the State. 

The colored people of Memphis have no great ground for com¬ 
plaint because of inadequate educational advantages for their child¬ 
ren. The city of Memphis has made wonderful progress along all 
lines, but its advancement along educational lines has been most 
marked. It has a complete system of free schools that compares 
favorably with any other system of similar character in the whole 
country. Of this system of public schools the colored people have 
eight large ward schools and one high school under the supervision 
of experienced and capable principals and teachers; and these 
schools have, up to this time, afforded ample accommodation for all 
that have applied for admission. The curriculum gives to every 
child, without money and without price, the advantages of a prac¬ 
tical education to prepare it for the duties and responsibilities of 
life. The demands of the age make it imperative to educate every 
child in the land and that man is woefully in error who thinks that 
a single child can get along without the strength and power result¬ 
ing from education. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


13 


There is no reason why there should be a single illiterate child in 
Memphis unless unfortunate circumstances have played their part in 
the life of the child. Ample provisions have been made by those in 
authority for the accommodation of all children entitled to ad¬ 
mission to the public schools. 

It may be best to state in this book that only thirty per cent 
of the colored children of school age are attending school. We do 
not know the conditions that keep seventy per cent of the children 
at home. It is a matter of such serious importance that we think it 
best to publish this fact so that, if it be possible, to apply the remedy, 
it may be heroically applied at the earliest possible moment. 

In Memphis are located some of the best private schools in the 
whole country. First among them in point of organization and 
continuous service is LeMoyne Normal Institute, founded by the 
American Missionary Association in 1871, and largely endowed by 
Dr. F. Julius LeMoyne, of Washington, Pa., after whom the school 
is named. In the scholastic year of 1907-08 this school had an en¬ 
rollment of over 700 students, many of whom were from adjacent 
states, and this enrollment would have been even greater if the ca¬ 
pacity of the school building had permitted it. 

The school is essentially Christian instead of denominational. Its 
founders had in view the moral and spiritual uplift of the race with¬ 
out which no race can truly advance. The work of this institution 
has been of incalculable good, not only in Memphis, but wherever its 
graduates have cast their lot. The highest ideals of life and irre¬ 
proachable moral examples have always been set before the students 
of this school, and it is not strange that its graduates have ever 
.striven to hold the banner of their Alma Mater high and not bring 
any reproach on its fair name. 

The principal of this school for nearly two generations has been 
Prof. Andrew J. Steele, who has devoted practically his whole life 
to the education of the colored people of the South. When he was 
a very young man he came South and began his life’s work among 
the colored people and he is now probably the oldest principal in 
the American Association in length of continuous service among the 
colored people. In all of these years of service he has not varied the 
thickness of a hair from his conception of the faithful performance 
of his duties; and if benign Providence should indefinitely prolong 
his labors among the colored people of Memphis his fidelity to the 
trust reposed in him would be strengthened instead of lessened. 


14 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Prof. Steele has lived and worked so long among the colored peo¬ 
ple that he seems io be indispensable to their welfare. He enjoys 
the confidence, esteem and love of the colored people to an incalcu¬ 
lable degree and their gratitude and appreciation will be as las ing 
as the rock-ribbed mountains and as eternal as time. He is patient, 
considerate, kind, sympathetic and generous. His judgment of 
character is unerring and he cannot be easily deceived or imposed 
upon. He is endowed with the usual intellect of the Yankee and 
is one of the best teachers that ever graced a school room. The 
years in his life are advancing, but his mind seems as bright and his 
perceptions as acute as they have ever been. Intellectually he will 
never become a back number. It may wear out, but will never rust 
out. 

N. B.—Since writing the above comment on Prof. Steele we have 
with deepest sorrow learned of his resignation. 

The next school in length of service is Howe Institute. Though 
this worthy school is under the auspices of the Baptist denomination 
yet it welcomes all students to its protecting care and guidance. It 
puts special stress upon the necessity of leading a religious life and 
daily Bible reading and religious training form a part of the school 
curriculum. Howe Institute has done great good for Memphis and 
the whole country adjacent thereto. It has sent forth into the great, 
busy world a host of earnest, worthy, consecrated young men and 
women inspired by the lofty principles of life instilled in their 
youthful minds. They have settled down in their respective com¬ 
munities to lead worthy and honorable lives, assist in the uplift of 
their people and do anything honorable that their hands find to do. 
They have no false notions of life. They have been taught to believe 
in the dignity of labor and not to despise honest toil. 

The beloved and worthy principal of Howe Institute for the past 
six years has been Dr. Thomas O. Fuller, a man of experience, ripe 
scholarship and great *ability, and under his leadership the school 
has gone forward by leaps and bounds. He is a man of rare execu¬ 
tive ability, and has the peculiar faculty of getting order out of 
chaos. Under him the school’s enrollment has exceeded five hun¬ 
dred students and the school that once was an indifferent, struggling 
institution, has become one of the most commanding and repre¬ 
sentative in the State. 

Dr. Fuller is an orator of great ability and is in great demand 
upon all demonstrative occasions. He is a very useful citizen and 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


15 


has done much to promote the cause of peace and friendship between 
the races in the South. In the very prime of life, stalwart in body 
and in brain, with all his powers in full and vigorous activity, there 
is no reason w T hy his future achievements shall suffer in comparison 
with his accomplishments in the past. The Baptist denomination, 
the community at large, and the whole colored race are to be con¬ 
gratulated because of the ability and services of Dr. Thomas 0. 
Fuller. 

The Hooks School of Music is the only Conservatory of Music for 
the colored people in Memphis. It has graduated and sent forth from 
its halls into fields of useful activity scores of well-trained and skill¬ 
ful musicians, many of whom have gained distinction as performers 
and teachers. 

Mrs. Julia A. Hooks is the founder and head of the Hooks Con¬ 
servatory of Music. Her whole life has been spent in an atmosphere 
of music and whatever spirit the community may have along the 
line of musical appreciation has very probably emanated from her 
efforts. She is one of the most useful, serviceable and public-spirited 
women in Memphis. She is a gifted woman of versatile ability and 
a ceaseless w T orker in every w T orthy cause. She has always been fore¬ 
most in ameliorating the condition of her people and has dared to 
take the initiative in worthy causes even when others would falter. 
She is the guardian angel and comforter of the weak and the dis¬ 
tressed. She scatters sunshine behind prison walls and holds up the 
gospel of hope to the wretched and forsaken. She is a public bene¬ 
factress to this community and her place cannot easily be filled. 

Business Opportunties for the Colored People. 

In many respects the city of Memphis has a distinct advantage 
over most of the other cities of the South, but in few other respects 
is the advantage for colored people more pronounced than in busi¬ 
ness opportunities. Having the largest colored population in the far 
South, it is very natural that the business outlook for energetic, cap¬ 
able and shrewd business men should be of the most favorable char¬ 
acter. There is hardly a restriction as to the business in which a 
colored man may engage if it be of a legitimate character and in all 
the large cities of the South may be found business men of color 
catering to the wants of their people and enjoying a reasonable 
amount of their patronage. 

In the past few years the colored people have awakened to the 
fact that it is commendable in them to patronize the business enter¬ 
prises of their own people and there is at present a general inclina- 


16 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


tion to do so. The exhortations of the preachers and other leaders 
of the race that they should get together and throw their strength in 
support of every worthy enterprise of the colored people are bear¬ 
ing fruit; and wherever a colored man- has the shrewdness and 
business tact to try to compete with all other races both in quality of 
goods and lowness of prices he is sure to command his share of the 
patronage of his people. The mistake heretofore made by colored 
merchants was that they expected patronage from their people be¬ 
cause the merchants were colored. They have long since realized 
that the color of the business man’s skin is not the main point of 
attraction, but rather it is the quality and price of his wares. If 
their prices and goods are right they will be prepared to contest 
for supremacy with all competitors. 

In the city of Memphis no serious effort has ever been made by 
the colored people to go into the dry goods business on a scale that 
would enable them to compete with the big concerns that are al¬ 
ready in the field. It has always been a question of doubt whether 
the colored man would be able to compete successfully with the 
Hebrews who seem to have an instinctive knowledge and mastery of 
the dry goods business. Not even the American white man can suc¬ 
cessfully measure commercial arms with the Hebrews in that kind of 
business, as may be evidenced by the fact that there is not a single 
American white man in Memphis engaged in the dry goods business 
on a large scale. This being the case with the American white man, 
it is not to be wondered why the colored people of Memphis have not 
dared to venture into a business in which the American white man 
has not cared to venture. 

The colored people are well represented in the grocery business 
and have many examples of mercantile success. There are attrac¬ 
tive drug stores, photograph studios, tailor shops, feed stores, res¬ 
taurants, barber shops, blacksmith shops, undertaking establish¬ 
ments, jewelry stores, dental parlors, coal and wood yards, laun¬ 
dries, shoe shops, shoe stores, ice cream manufactories, shoe shining 
parlors, news paper plants, printing offices, silk and lace cleaning 
establishments, harness making stores and many other kinds of 
business establishments in Memphis. 

The greatest and most successful competitor that the colored 
buiness man must meet is the Italian. We are not able to account 
for the Italian’s complete mastery of the patronage of the colored 
people; but he holds it neverthelss as if in the hollow of his hands. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


17 


The Italian lunch houses and grocery stores will be packed to suffo¬ 
cation with colored patrons while colored establishments of a similar 
character would be practically empty. We have tried to find the 
explanation for this condition of affairs and have received various 
answers. The general explanation, however, is that the Italian is 
much craftier as a business man. He is a good mixer with colored 
people and a great jollier. He know^s how to turn every trick that 
will work to his advantage. He apparently gives more for the money 
than is popularly supposed to be given elsewhere. His surroundings 
are usually not so stylish as to frighten away the timid, and it is not 
necessary to don a swallow tail coat and patent leather pumps in 
order to go in and be served. The humblest laborer, as a rule, can 
go in and be served without being considered an intruder and a vio¬ 
lator of the proprieties of the house. 

We do not know the degrees of correctness of these explanations, 
but we do know that the Italian has the crowds and apparently 
takes in the money. We commend his methods to those who are not 
satisfied with their own business success. His suavity of speech, his 
gay companionship, his personal magnetism and his supposed lib¬ 
erality for the money he receives are not qualities that can be looked 
upon with indifference by any colored man. 

If we be permitted to digress a little, it seems that the Italian 
is going to be the most successful competitor that the colored man 
will be forced to meet, not only along the line of business enterprises, 
but in the great fields of unskilled labor. Experiments with Italians 
in the cotton fields of the Delta regions are said to have been very 
satisfactory and if these reports be true and the Italians can be suc¬ 
cessfully colonized there in sufficient numbers, the death knell of the 
colored man’s indispensable services in the cotton fields of the South 
will be tolled. The Italian is said to be able to wrest more sub¬ 
stance from the soil than any other people; nature seems to smile 
upon their efforts and superabundance springs forth from their 
magical touch; They bear winter’s cold or summer’s heat with equal 
indifference and their one great ambition seems to be to make 
Mother Earth repay them many fold for every ounce of energy ex¬ 
pended thereon. They are unceasing in their industry and are 
thrifty to an extraordinary degree. They have the happy faculty 
of living on a dime while the colored man must have a dollar. The^ 
are utterly indifferent to social functions while they are trying to 
get up in the world and they wear the hickory shirt and the hand¬ 
kerchief belt with the same equanimity that the colored man would 


18 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


wear his full dress suit of clothes‘on an occasion of state. In their 
unattractive garb peddling on the streets the Italians may excite 
from the thoughtless nothing but derision and contempt; but in the 
course of a few years invariably they are- able to give the loud laugh 
and the hoarse hoot to those who had formerly jeered them. We 
hope to be pardoned if, perchance, we seem to have too much Italian 
on the brain. Every man must ride his little hobby horse and in¬ 
dulge in his pet theories. If our thoughts be unproductive of much 
good they will at least not do much harm. In any case, we can say 
that we have thought the best according to our feeble understanding. 

Cemeteries Owned By Colored People. 

If the colored people are not able, while living, to own a very 
desirable home, conditions have made it possible for them to do so 
after they are dead. In the matter of having a suitable and satis¬ 
factory place in which to inter their dead the colored people of 
Memphis are fortunate. They are the proud possessors of a ceme¬ 
tery in which the remains of a king would not be dishonored to lie. 

In the early years after the Civil War a few far-sighted brainy- 
men of the race, anticipating the needs of the colored people of 
Memphis, formed themselves into a fraternal and benevolent organ¬ 
ization and purchasd a large tract of land outside of the city limits 
to be used as a cemetery. This cemetery has always been called 
by the name of the organization to which it belongs—Zion cemetery. 
In our humble judgment we know of no other act on the part of 
the early freedmen of Memphis that reflects so much credit on their 
far-sightedness and shrewdness as the purchase of this large tract of 
land as a City of the Dead for colored people. If the thousands of 
colored people who have come on since those early days and enjoyed 
superior advantages of education had possessed one fractional part 
of the sagacity and foresight of these old fathers who had been 
slaves, the material condition of our people would be far different 
today. 

Zion cemetery is patronized by the best classes of colored people. 
The whole cemetery is open to them, which is much more desirable 
than to be restricted to any certain section. 

It is not generally known that there is another cemetery in 
Memphis for colored people. This cemetery is located on Winchester 
avenue about five miles south of Court Square and is the property of 
Mr. Levy McCoy, one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


19 


Memphis. Its use as a cemetery dates from the year of 1904, when 
it was first purchased by Mr. McCoy. It contains five acres of land 
and is well suited for the purpose of a cemetery. Within the short 
period of four years nearly three hundred bodies have been interred 
there and its use is becoming more general as its existence becomes 
better known. This cemetery is a monument to the business shrewd¬ 
ness of Mr. McCoy; for it is seldom the case that a man, however 
progressive he may be, will have the grit to undertake such a grave 
enterprise as this alone. 

In some respects in the management of his cemetery Mr. McCoy 
is a public benefactor; for, if it were not for his kindness, sympathy 
and generosity, quite a number of dead bodies would be compelled 
to lie buried in potter’s field, unknown and unhonored. As it is. 
many a poor bereaved relative has, through Mr. McCoy’s assistance, 
buried her loved one under conditions of honor instead of dis¬ 
grace. All honor to the foresight and business sagacity of Mr. 
Levy McCoy. 


Parks for the Colored People. 

The city of Memphis maintains, by public taxation, a magnificent 
system of public parks containing a thousand acres of land. They 
are located in various sections of the city, so that some one park 
may be accessible to the people of each section. It is probable that 
these city parks would be patronized by the colored people if they 
were greatly inclined and encouraged to do so. But the colored 
people in a private capacity have not been sleeping on their oppor¬ 
tunities in this respect. They have their own parks, which they either 
own or lease for recreation or amusement purposes. In the proper 
season of the year these parks are well patronized by pleasure seek¬ 
ers, and they greatly relieve the tediousness and hum-drum of 
every-day life. 

Probably the oldest and best known park in Memphis for the 
colored people is Church’s Park. It has been in operation about 
ten years and contains a magnificent auditorium, which is used for 
theatrical and convention purposes. The park is located right in 
the heart of the city of Memphis and is one of the most attractive 
in the city. Lighted up at night with electricity it looks like a veri¬ 
table fairy-land or garden of the gods. It is open at all times to any 
one and is one of the chief centers of attraction for strangers visit¬ 
ing the city. 


•20 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Another place of recreation and amusement for the colored peo¬ 
ple is Klondyke Park, located in Northeast Memphis. Each succeed¬ 
ing year has increased its popularity as a pleasure resort. It is sit¬ 
uated on high territory and is large enough for baseball games and 
out-door sports of a general character. The gentlemen connected 
*dth its management are conservative, representative citizens and 
endeavor to run a high class reputable resort that the best classes 
•of people can patronize. 

There has been built out on Florida street just outside of the 
corporate limits a park for colored people which seems destined to 
surpass all other parks in the city in attractiveness for the colored 
people. It has been erected by white capitalists who have en¬ 
deavored to provide for the colored people a place of amusement 
that will compare favorably with any of the white parks of similar 
character. It is not to be doubted but that this new park will share 
with the other parks a reasonable amount of the colored people’s 
patronage. 


Colored Institutions of Charity. 

In the domain of the English language no other word has a higher 
or a holier signficance than the word charity. The preservation of 
the whole human race today is due to the inexpressible charity of 
God. The word charity means liberality and love and without it 
the whole world would be nothing but vast nothingness. Charity 
makes us look with compassion and pity upon the weak, distressed, 
and helpless. It causes us for the nonce to forget self and all of its 
inherent selfishness and remember that man is man’s brother and 
that God is the Father of all. 

If there be any one quality that undoubtedly shows the unity of 
a race it is the spirit of charity that actuates one member of the race 
in its relationship with the other. The dominant white race today 
owes its prestige and its power to the undying principles of charity. 
No member of that race ever suffers greatly from the adversities of 
life as long as there is a single hand that is able to bring succor, 
comfort and cheer. It encourages and maintains every form of 
charity that the exigencies of their people demand. All along the 
journey of life they hold out the hand of charity to their people. 
They provide homes for their foundlings, houses of refuge for their 
unfortunate women, asylums for their orphans, reformatories and 
industrial schools for their incorrigibles, sanitariums and hospitals 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


21 


for their sick, institutions for their destitute, and homes in which 
their old and infirm may pass their final years before crossing the 
threshhold into the mysterious life that sooner or later will claim 
us all. 

While the colored people of Memphis have been busily engaged 
in all the complex pursuits of life in order to maintain themselves 
they have not overlooked the wants of the poor, needy and destitute 
classes. We do not say that our people have done their whole duty 
in this particular respect, but they might have done a great deal 
worse. The spirit of true benevolence has been with many of our 
people and it has manifested itself in acts of charity that merit 
the greatest praise. 

Many years ago a few earnest, determined men and women 
conceived the idea of building a home for the orphans and old 
folks of our city. The effort at no time received that healthy re¬ 
sponse and cheerful co-operation which its worthy character de¬ 
served from the colored people whose interests were thus being 
fostered, and the result was that the project was very slow of 
realization. Finally after many years of continuous effort by the 
invincible and faithful few, the home is now a reality; and the 
blessings of Providence will fall more abundantly on the heads of 
those who have laid the foundation and built the structure of this 
noble deed of charity. A commodious structure with sufficient acre¬ 
age for all practical needs is the monument to the untiring efforts 
and zeal of the faithful few to which reference is made above. The 
Old Folks’ and Orphans’ Home is located in the southern part of the 
vicinity of Memphis, and a short distance outside of its corporate 
limits. 

Another institution of similar character now in near prospect of 
commencement is under the auspices of Collin s Chapel, C. M. E. 
church. A suitable site has been purchased on which ample build¬ 
ings for the Home will be erected as soon as the necessary funds will 
have been secured. The members of grand old Collins Chapel have 
never failed in any enterprise that they have ever undertaken and 
with such a matchless leader as Dr. I. S. Person to guide them, their 
ultimate success in this worthy project is a matter only of reason¬ 
able time. 

Colored Hospitals and Infirmaries. 

In the matter of conveniences for those in need of skillful and 
expert medical and surgical treatment Memphis does not suffer 
much in comparison with other cities, so far as the colored people 
are concerned. The problem of the restoration and preservation 


22 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


of health is of primary importance and the colored physicians and 
surgeons have studied and prepared themselves to cope with any 
emergency. Notwithstanding the great number of new diseases 
brought on, no doubt, by the manners and conditions of American 
life, yet so closely has medical science and knowledge pursued them 
that no great increase in the death rate has been noticed. 

It is with no small degree of pride with which we refer to the 
two local institutions for the relief and restoration of colored peo¬ 
ple to a state of health. The Hairston Hospital, founded by Dr. J. C. 
Hairston, and the Terrell-Patterson Infirmary, founded by Dr. C. A. 
Terrell are institutions that have done incalculable good for the city 
of Memphis. Both of these gentlemen are experienced and skillful 
practitioners, and enjoy both the confidence of the public at large 
and an extensive and lucrative practice. Many successful operations 
have been performed and many complicated and serious diseases 
cured by each of them. Their clinics have been attended with great 
professional benefit and profit by other practitioners and their 
methods have achieved success and merited popular favor. The 
success of these institutions has traveled into other states and pa¬ 
tients from distant places frequently come to Memphis to avail them¬ 
selves of the skill of these two experienced and accomplished 
physicians. 


The Colored Ministers of the Gospel. 

In all the ages of the world the ministers of the Gospel have been 
the real leaders of every people and they are none the less today. 
They are the ones through whom God has revealed all n^steries 
and prophecies and the ways of salvation and eternal life. Since 
creation they have been the chosen medium of communication be¬ 
tween God and man, and filling this exalted mission and high calling 
in life, it is but natural that their life and character should be of 
paramount importance. 

The position of the colored minister is unique. He is every 
worthy relation to all men. He is teacher, confidential friend and 
adviser, brother, father, preacher and every exalted relation in life. 
The religious instincts of the colored people are intense and this fact 
makes the calling of our ministers a matter of the gravest im¬ 
portance. 

As a whole the colored ministers of the Gospel in Memphis are 
men of character and great influence among their people. They are 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


23 


truly men of God, and consecrated to the sublime task of converting 
the world from the darkness of sin to the light of eternal truth and 
righteousness. From day to day they go among their people minis¬ 
tering 1o their necessities and scattering sunshine, consolation and 
hope. No day is so gloomy and no night so dark that their sorely 
tried feet will wander from duty’s path. Only the ministers them¬ 
selves know the misery, desolation and woe that fill the hearts of 
so many of our people. To their confidence are revealed secrets too 
sacred for the hearts of any other mortal soul and the whole lives of 
men are often stripped and laid bare to the minister’s closest scruti¬ 
ny. And be it said to the lasting credit of the ministers that seldom 
have they betrayed the great trust reposed in them. 

It is said by some people that the ministers of the colored people 
are uncrowned kings. The same statement may be made concern¬ 
ing the ministers of all races. In all ages of the world the ministers 
have been objects of love and veneration. Their exalted and godly 
lives make them at all times objects of respect and reverence. 

We are aware of the disposition of many pople to criticise, abuse 
and slander the ministers of the gospel. Some people can see no vir¬ 
tue in anybody else but themselves. Moreover it makes some puny 
mortals seem big and important when they are seen upon the house¬ 
tops and other elevated places proclaiming the shortcomings and 
misdeeds of other people. The wallet that every human being is 
said to carry on his shoulders is so suspended that his own faults 
are behind him and, therefore, invisible, while his neighbors’ faults 
are ever present before his vision. No man that habitually scores 
and abuses our ministers should be seriously considered. Rather he 
should be pitied and the mantle of Charity thrown about him because 
the Almighty failed to apportion out to him all the sense that was 
due him. 

In many respects we are proud of the influence and character of 
our ministers. Most orf them are safe and reliable men and have been 
tested in the crucible and found to be pure gold in their fidelity to 
the race. Most of them preach the gospel of good living as well as 
the gospel of holy dying. Most of them believe in the saving grace of 
education as well as the saving grace of religion. Through their un 
tiring efforts along spiritual, intellectual and moral lines the colored 
race has reached this present milestone on life’s journey; and it is 
no insignificant achievement to have led the colored race success¬ 
fully thus far, hindered, as it has always been, by bickering and in- 


24 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ternal strife. Only consecrated men with God as their leader could 
have accomplished what our ministers have accomplished under such 
fearful odds and amidst such great disadvantages. 

The Political Rights of the Colored People. 

This volume would not be complete without some reference to the 
political status of the colored citizens of Memphis. In this great re¬ 
public of America no subject or occasion is complete without refer¬ 
ence to the glorious privileges that we enjoy. We do not share in 
the apprehension that the participation of the colored people in the 
government will ever imperil the safety of this republic. Intelli¬ 
gence and wealth have always been most powerful in the affairs of 
this nation and there is no reason why we should expect the ex¬ 
perience of the future to be a reversal of the past. 

If the political franchise in the hands of colored people ever was 
a menace to the welfare of the nation it was in the days of their 
greatest ignorance; for we cheerfully admit that ignorance is a very 
dangerous foe to society and is most destructive to the best inter¬ 
ests of government. 

In the city of Memphis the colored man is not a burning political 
issue and political passion is not so intensely aroused against his ex¬ 
ercising the rights conferred upon him by the constitution of the 
land. No political hocus pocus has been resorted to to deprive him 
of his political rights; nor has any emergency clause been enacted to 
assist any class of citizens. All must meet the simple requirements 
of the law. It is no more difficult for a colored man to vote in Mem¬ 
phis than it is for him to vote in many parts of the North. They do 
not all blindly adhere to any political party, though tradition among 
them encourages the support of the Republican candidate in all 
presidential elections. In municipal elections and those involving 
the governorship of the State the colored people are largely inde¬ 
pendent and disposed to vote for the man that they consider least 
hostile to their interests. The name of the party does not cast that 
hypnotic spell upon the colored voter that it formerly did. He has 
seen a new light and now votes for the man that he believes will 
be least likely to deny him opportunity or punish him because of his 
color. The colored voters have ceased to be political cattle, to be 
driven to the market and sold to the highest bidder at so much per 
head. They have become thinking men and are looking out for 
their material welfare in their respective communties, instead of 
trying to elevate some politicians to a fat political job. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


25 


Many of the leaders of the colored people think that it is an un¬ 
fortunate fact that the colored voters do not differ politically among 
themselves as to the policies of the government. They differ on 
nearly all economic questions; they differ in religious beliefs and 
they differ as to the kind of, education most needed to prepare the 
race for American life. It is claimed that the solidarity of the col¬ 
ored voters under one political banner will always force the white 
voters to be united under another political banner, and that this di¬ 
vision of the races into tw r o opposite and hostile political camps 
has been the cause of serious misunderstanding and friction be¬ 
tween them. 

We are not a political oracle and consequently are not competent 
to give advice along that line. We can not wax eloquent even on 
such an inviting and attractive theme as politics. Insofar as our 
feeble lights have been able to shine we have made no startling dis¬ 
covery of merit or demerit on the part of either political party. It 
is possible that neither party has any monopoly, either of civic virtue 
or vice. Prosperity has blessed and adversity has blighted both 
parties when they have respectively held the reins of state. The 
proud and historic Republican party that has wrought such wonder¬ 
ful things in the past of this country, has had to nurse at its breast 
a large and healthy financial panic and the Democratic party has 
had a similar experience. Under each of these two great parties the 
country has enjoyed periods of great prosperity, and suffered from 
occasional periods of adversity. As the success of neither party in 
the government of the nation has been uniform, we may conclude 
that neither party is infallible. There is one instance in which both 
parties always agree, viz.: They both want the offices; and neither 
party will actually scorn the colored man’s vote if by this vote it 
can ride into political prestige and power. 


The COLORED PHYSICIANS 
of MEMPHIS 

The medical profession in Memphis is numerously represented, 
there being among the colored people over forty practicing physi¬ 
cians and surgeons. All of these physicians are graduates of the 
most reputable medical colleges in the various states of the Union, 
and all of these colleges have courses of study that conform with 
the requirements of the American Medical Association. Many of 
these physicians have pursued post-graduate courses in some of the 
most famous medical colleges in the land. 

The majority of the colored physicians of Memphis are grad¬ 
uates of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., but Howard Uni¬ 
versity’s Medical Department is represented by one physician and 
the University of West Tennessee is represented by at least two 
practicing physicians. The fact that the graduates of the schools 
are able to pass with credit the State Board of Medical Examiners 
of Tennessee is sufficient evidence of the thorough character of the 
work done by these respective institutions. 

Most of the colored physicians were men of superior intellectual 
training before they took up the study of the art of healing and 
this previous training enabled them the better to understand and as¬ 
similate the great truths of medical science and apply them to the 
work of ameliorating the condition of mankind. The medical pro¬ 
fession demands intelligence of the highest order and no man will 
succeed in it as he should unless he be thus equipped. No man 
whose brain, figuratively speaking, has riot been thoroughly plowed 
up can ever honestly graduate from a first-class medical school. 
Chemistry and anatomy will be barriers insurmountable in his 
pathway. 

The advent of the intelligent, up-to-date colored physician has 
been of incalculable benefit to the race. It has given a feeling of se¬ 
curity along the line of health which the colored people had never 
experienced before. With a capable colored physician it is perfectly 
natural that a sensible colored man would feel a greater sense of 
security than with the physicians of other races; for blood is thicker 
than water. Everything else being equal, it is perfectly natural that 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


27 


the colored physician would have a greater degree of solicitude for 
the life of a colored patient than the physician of a different race 
would have. 

Some of the colored physicians have fitted up their offices with 
instruments of the most approved character and they are thus better 
able to treat their patients according to the latest and most scientific 
methods. 

The financial rewards of the medical profession are very gratify¬ 
ing to the successful physician, and as a class the colored physicians 
are among the wealthiest citizens of the community. Some of the 
most beautiful homes in Memphis are owned by our leading colored 
physicians and many of our medical men are capitalists and finan¬ 
cially interested in important business ventures. 


Dr. R. L. Adams. 

In searching the pages of history most people have been ac¬ 
customed to associate the name of Adams with the great Common¬ 
wealth of Massachusetts; but in this instance the name of Adams 
by nativity is associated with the State of Tennessee. The pleasant 
and elongated doctor received his educational training in the 
schools of Springfield, Tenn. From the earliest period of his life 
he had an ambition to be somebody and this worthy ambition was 
stimulated by a devoted mother who still inspires her son to noble 
and honorable achievement. As soon as circumstances would per¬ 
mit he entered the medical department of Meharry Medical College 
to pursue the study of medicine and at the expiration of four years 
he completed the course and received his diploma. Unlike many 
others, he did not locate elsewhere, but decided to come home and 
practice his profession. He had confidence in himself that he could 
make good at home, and his splendid success in the practice of his 
profession in Memphis has been a thorough verification of the wis¬ 
dom of his action. So well-known and thoroughly liked by all classes 
is he that most of his friends consider him strictly a home product. 
He is a successful physician, a popular man and a good citizen, and 
is making a reputation for high class ability in his profession. 


Dr. G. W. Atkins. 

There is something particularly pleasing in the personal history 
of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, for he is 
one of the brightest examples among the physicians of Memphis of 
what real grit and perseverance can accomplish under adverse con- 




28 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 



DR. G. W. ATKINS 

ditions. From his earliest youth he had an unconquerable ambition 
to obtain an education, but did not receive that encouragement and 
assistance that he should have received. So he determined to strike 
out in the world for himself and paddle his own canoe to the goal of 
his ambition. He worked his own way through school amidst hard¬ 
ships that would have discouraged a less determined mind. Many 





THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


29 


of those days were very dark, but they have been succeeded by days 
of success as cheerful and as bright as they were dark. He attended 
Howe Institute for two years and then pursued a higher training 
in Roger Williams University. He is a graduate of Meharry Medical 
College and in the practice of his profession has had great success. 
He has but recently located in Memphis, but seems to have been as 
successful in the practice of his profession in Memphis as many 
physicians who have been here for years instead of months. He 
has purchased a very large and attractive residence on Kimbrough 
street, in one of the most elegant and exclusive sub-divisions in 
Memphis for colored people. In doing thus he has identified him¬ 
self with the most substantial interests of Memphis and has raised 
the standing of the race several degrees. He is a pleasant gentle¬ 
man and a good neighbor, and is having the same professional suc¬ 
cess in Memphis that he had elsewhere. 


Dr. W. C. Bailey. 

The pleasant and accomplished gentleman bearing this good old 
English name has been connected with this community in a pro¬ 
fessional capacity for only a short time, but even this short period 
of service has been sufficient to demonstrate his ability as a prac¬ 
ticing physician and surgeon. 

Dr. Bailey’s native state is Alabama, and it was in the common 
schools of this State that was laid the foundation for a first-class 
education. His higher educational training was received at Fisk 
University, Nashville, Tenn., the school that has given to the South 
some of its brainiest and most distinguished colored citizens. It was 
in this great institution of learning, no doubt, that he received that 
stimulus and inspiration to make a mark in life. 

He is a graduate of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., 
and has gone into the practice of medicine carefully trained and 
thoroughly prepared to alleviate the sufferings of his fellowman. 


Dr. Wm. P. Bryant. 

In the first part of 1908, the talented and accomplished subject 
of this sketch located in the city of Memphis to practice his pro¬ 
fession. The author had the pleasure of forming a personal acquaint¬ 
ance with Dr. Bryant and found him to be a gentleman of rare in- 




30 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


telligence and the author is quite certain of the fact that the pro¬ 
fession of medicine has gained an able practitioner in him. The 
doctor never sleeps on a favorable opportunity to further his own 
professional welfare, and as soon as he was apprised of the fact that, 
there was an opening in Somerville for a doctor he quit Memphis 
and located there, and is highly successful in his work. 


Dr. A. S. J. Burchett. 

The oldest physician in length of continuous service is Dr. A. S. 
J. Burchett, who began the practice of medicine in Memphis proba¬ 
bly in the year of 1884, and who has been faithfully discharging his 
professional duties here ever since that time. The doctor has al¬ 
ways enjoyed unbounded popularity with all classes of people and 
his professional success has been as unbounded as his personal popu¬ 
larity. He has a very large practice and numbers his patients by 
the hundreds all over the city of Memphis and adjacent territory. 
The handsome doctor has always gone in the very height of fashion 
and it would shock any acquaintance of his to see the doctor 
equipped otherwise than in the latest style, both as to personal at¬ 
tire and vehicle. The doctor, though having been engaged in the 
practice of medicine for nearly a quarter of a century, is still a 
young man and is heart and fancy free. He has a large circle of de¬ 
voted friends and enjoys their unlimited confidence and patronage. 
His office has for many years been on Main street, the most desirable 
and important thoroughfare in Memphis, and his office furnishings 
have always been in harmony with his surroundings. The doctor is 
the personification of grace and congeniality, and his elegant looking 
presence would gain him ready admittance to the charmed circles of 
society anywhere. He is a splendid physician and an excellent 
citizen. 


Dr. A. D. Byas. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of the great State of Missis¬ 
sippi—a state famous ior the production of distinguished and emi¬ 
nent colored men. He enjoyed the best of educational advantages, 
having received his academic training at Rust University, which is 
probably the most important institution of learning for the colored 
people in the State of Mississippi. After his graduation the doctor 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


31 


taught school with splendid success in Shelby county for several 
sessions, and was one of the leading teachers in the county. Having 
completed his medical course in Meharry College he located for the 
practice of his profession in Shelby county, and has been identified 
with it in a professional capacity ever since. The doctor’s success 
as a practitioner has been great and the financial rewards of his 
labors have been commensurate with his professional service. He 
has accumulated what may be considered a fortune for a young 
man and his prospects are now brighter than ever for success in his 
profession and financial gain. His practice covers a large part of 
Memphis and Shelby county, and he has but few hours of rest from 
the pressing duties of his profession. He is not only the owner of 
extensive acres of fertile land in Shelby county, but he is largely 
interested in the North Memphis Drug Company, of which he is 
president. 

His unarming wife has contributed in no small degree to his suc¬ 
cess professionally and financially, and he is to be congratulated for 
having made such a wise selection. 

Dr. M. M. Colley. 

Dr. Colley’is not ashamed to acknowledge that he hails from 
Mississippi, the state that produced such famous men as John R. 
Lynch, B. K. Bruce, and Mr. Hill—three of the brightest stars in 
America’s political galaxy. Early in life Dr. Colley moved to the 
state of Arkansas and completed the course of instruction in the 
common schools of that State. Subsequently he attended Philander 
Smith College, Little Rock, Ark., and received his higher education¬ 
al training. He was a successful teacher in Arkansas for eight 
years, during which time he accomplished much good for the youth 
of his race. He abandoned the profession of teaching and began 
the study of medicine at Meharry Medical College, and graduated 
with honor from that instituiton. He is located in one of the most 
populous sections of Memphis, and already enjoys a splendid prac¬ 
tice. He is a quiet, thoughtful, pleasant gentleman, with an air that 
bespeaks the physician, and he seems capable of giving a good 
account of himself in the profession he has chosen to follow. 


Dr. E. C. Craigen. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of the great State of Arkan¬ 
sas, and is honorably connected with its educational history. For 
many «years he was one of the leading teachers in the State and was 




32 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 

repeatedly honored by the various State Superintendents of Instruc¬ 
tion with the appointment of conductor of State Institutes for the 
colored people. He is a graduate of the State Normal School of 
Arkansas, and of the great State School of Indiana at Valparaiso. 
He is a man of liberal education and is destined to achieve as much 
success in the practice of medicine as he did achieve in the teacher’s 
profession. He was valedictorian of his class on the occasion of his 
graduation at Meharry Medical College, and he has well maintained 
the reputation as a practicing physician which his friends and ad¬ 
mirers at college predicted for him. His professional success for 
the short time he has practiced in Memphis has been phenomenal, 
and he numbers among his patients some of the most representative 
and prominent citizens of Memphis. He is congenial, affable, jovial 
and kindly and has a firm hold upon the affections of his friends. 
He is a man of such splendid intellectual equipment and has so 
thoroughly mastered the principles of his profession that his success 
in the future is guaranteed. His coming to Memphis and locating 
in order to practice his profession is a contradiction of the old saying 
that all the wise men came from the East, for here is indeed one 
that came from the West. 


Dr. J. L. DeLoney. 

The affable, stylish, up-to-date looking young physician with the 
name suggestive of Sunny Italy was born in a state that can bear 
favorable comparison in scenic beauty and picturesqueness even 
with the land of the dark-skinned and musical sons of Italy; for he 
was born in the beautiful State of Alabama, where nature is one 
grand panorama of beauty and scenic splendor. Alabama is a 
veritable Garden of the Gods. Its towering mountains clad in leafy 
verdure; its laughing rivulets and singing brooklets; its cooling 
waters, fresh and sparkling from nature’s fountain; its grottos, 
wherein the orb of day seldom deigns to send his rays, its vine-clad 
hills and bright skies all truly make this state “Alabama, here 
we rest.” 

Dr. DeLoney has no lengthy history, for he is still in point of age, 
one of our youngest physicians. In his youth he received the best 
educational advantages that the great State of Alabama could give 
to an ambitious colored boy. He graduated with honor from the 
Agricultural and Mechanical College at Normal, Ala., an institution 
of learning which is fostered both by the Slate of Alabama and by 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


33 


the general government. This school is one of the greatest training 
schools in the South, ancl has ample resources to run it. It main¬ 
tains a regular collegiate department and this can be said of very 
few agricultural and mechanical colleges in the South. It has several 
magnificent buildings situated on the very summit of a mountain, 
and they present a spectacle that is grand as it is inspiring. 

Having graduated from this famous institution of learning Dr. 
DeLoney matriculated in Meharry Medical College, and in due time 
graduated and began the practice of his profession in the Bluff City, 
where he has been very successful. He has a splendid practice and 
is recognized as one of the leaders in his profession. 

The stylish, well-groomed physician has had no hardships to 
which he can point back with pride. He enjoyed the very best ad¬ 
vantages that well-to-do parents could give him. In fact he was 
born in four-leaf clover. Any one that wears the class of haber¬ 
dashery that the genial doctor wears and can do so with his charac¬ 
teristic ease and grace is certainly not of plebian extraction. He 
would seem perfectly at home if he were in the company of King 
Edward VII, and the doctor’s suit would make the king’s gladdest 
attire reflect a pale yellow hue. He is always quiet and polished 
and has many of the qualities of a modern Chesterfield. 


s 


Dr. G. W. Dunn. 

The tall and stately medical man bearing the name so pleasing to 
a voracious appetite was born in the State of Mississippi. He re¬ 
ceived a splendid education. He completed the common school 
course in his State and then attended Macon High School. To this 
training was added a higher educational training received at Clark 
University, Atlanta, Ga. He began his career as a school teacher 
and taught in four different states, covering a period of seven years. 
He is a brother of Dr. Dunn, formerly of this city, but now of Nash¬ 
ville, Tenn. He is a graduate of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, 
Tenn. He and his distinguished .brother, Dr. Dunn, of Nashville, 
make a first-class medical team, and they give their family the unique 
distinction of having two doctors of ability in it. He has struggled 
and sacrificed to gain the professional training he has, and no doubt 
he will use it to every possible advantage and credit. He is a pleas¬ 
ant gentleman and his ability deserves success. 



34 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Dr. J. C. Hairston. 

The distinguished physician bearing this name is a native of 
that proud old State that is sometimes called the “ Mother of Presi¬ 
dents”—that grand old state whose towering mountains inspire its 
sons with the love for liberty and learning—the State of Virginia. 
The genial doctor enjoyed the best educational advantages and is a 
scholar of surprising ability. He is the personification of simplicity 
and for this reason alone his splendid scholarship would possibly 
escape detection from casual acquaintances. He is a graduate of 
Bennett College, Greensboro, N. C., and is a man of classical train¬ 
ing. He graduated in medicine at Meharry Medical College, at Nash¬ 
ville, and began the practice of medicine in the year of 1888. He 
is a practitioner of ripe experience and is generally regarded as one 
if the ablest physicians in the State of Tennessee, He is the founder 
of the Hairston Hospital of this city, an institution that has done 
incalculable good in restoring to health and strength the diseased 
and afflicted, not only of this community, but those from other states. 
He looks like a physician, talks like a physician and is one of the best 
in the land. He has a very large and lucrative practice and his 
presence at the bedside of a patient is sufficient assurance that the 
patient will receive the most intelligent treatment that long ex¬ 
perience, great skill and careful diagnosis can command. 


Dr. A. L. Hall. 

It is a great distinction in the life of any ordinary mortal being 
to achieve success in a single field of activity. Much more then is it 
a worthy achievement to command success in two different fields of 
endeavor. It is the happy lot of Dr. Hall to have accomplished what 
few other men have succeeded in accomplishing. He has not 'only 
achieved success and fame in the pulpit, but he has also made for 
himself an enduring name in the medical profession. He is a grad¬ 
uate of a reputable medical college of the State of Tennessee and 
has successfully practiced his profession in Memphis for many years. 
We have written at length concerning him in another section of this 
book. 


Dr. L. S. Henderson. 

Dr. Henderson’s perennial smile was first observed by his de¬ 
lighted parents in the State of Alabama, where all nature smiles with 
radiant beauty. He was given the advantages of a good education 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


35 


to enable him to fight, life’s battles and, to the gratification of his 
multitude of friends, he has admirably succeeded in the contest. 
Just as has been the case with so many men that have achieved suc¬ 
cess in life the pleasant doctor began his career as a teacher and 
successfully followed the life of a pedagogue for several years. 
There can be no doubt of his success as a disciplinarian, for two 
hundred and twenty-five pounds of avoirdupois in the shape of 
muscle and brawn have a tendency to make the average pupil sit 
up and take notice as well as take care. It is probable that the 
doctor had one of the best schools in the State of Alabama and that 
the profession of teaching lost one of its ablest exponents when 
the doctor abandoned it for the study of medicine. 

He is a graduate of Meharry Medical College—the leading medi¬ 
cal school in the South for colored people—and has successfully 
practiced his profession in Memphis for several years. As a physician 
he ranks high and has done much professionally to gain the re¬ 
spect and confidence of his people. 

The doctor wears a smile that won’t come off. It is not one 
of those complacent self-satisfied smiles, but it is a genuine smile, 
springing from the depth of a good heart. In addition to his being 
by nature a fine man, which fact is generally known, the doctor’s 
road has been paved, not only with success, but with wealth. There 
is an old idea prevailing that if a man be kicked the whole world 
will help to kick him and that if a man begins to climb the ladder 
of wealth everybody will give him a lift. We don’t know how much 
truth there is in either of these sayings, but we do know that things 
have been coming by leaps and bounds in the doctor’s way. In the 
city of Birmingham the doctor’s property holdings are so vast that 
he is easily rated as one of the city’s wealthiest real estate owners. 
He is pre-eminently a business man, and has never scored a failure in 
any capacity. He started out in life to obtain a good education 
and succeeded; he aspired to get a true, devoted wife, and succeed¬ 
ed; he had an ambition to go after the Almighty dollar, and in this 
he has succeeded even beyond his most sanguine expectations. He 
is a shining example of what unremitting industry, cool and calcu¬ 
lating judgment, and thrift can accomplish to enable a man to rise 
in life. 


Dr. N. H. C. Henderson. 

The State of Louisiana has conferred an honor upon the State of 
Tennessee by sending to it one of Louisiana’s ablest and best 



36 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


equipped sons in the person of Dr. N. IT. C. Henderson. He is one of 
our best educated physicians, and received a classical training at 
Bishop College, Marshall, Texas, which institution has, for years, 
been noted for the. many young men of sterling worth and character 
that it has sent forth from its study halls into the busy walks of 
life, and Dr. Henderson is a bright example of the character of the 
students of that great institution. He is a graduate of the«Medical 
Department of the University of West Tennessee, and has a repu¬ 
tation in the practice of medicine, that is creditable alike to his own 
powers of understanding and the thorough training of the institution 
from which he receved the highest professional honor. He is located 
in a section of the city somewhat removed from the other physicians, 
and has a practice that is gratifying in the extreme to him and his 
friends. 


Dr. J. J. Hoover. 

Dr. Hoover hails from the state with a long name to the south of 
Memphis. He was educated in the common schools of Mississippi 
and in the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. He finally 
graduated from Zion College, Grenada, Miss., which is one of the sub¬ 
stantial institutions of learning in the State of Mississippi. He 
taught school in his native state for seven years, and made quite 
a reputation as a successful teacher. He is a graduate of Meharry 
Medical College, and is well prepared to practice his profession. 
The doctor has a cheerful disposition and a pleasant countenance, 
and has the faculty of both making friends and keeping them. He 
is well located in Memphis and has a good practice. 


Dr. R. M. Hunt. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the State of Mississippi. 
He received a part of his academic training in Memphis and grad¬ 
uated in 1901. He enjoys the unique distinction of being at present 
the only physician in this city that holds a diploma of graduation 
from the Medical Department of Howard University, Washington, 
D. C. While in Washington he was honored with the presidency of 
the Junior Class of his Alma Mater, and could have been elected to 
the presidency of the Senior Class if he had not declined the honor. 
He took a post-graduate course in surgery and obstetrics at the 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


37 


same institution. He has licenses to practice medicine in more than 
one state and can change his fields of labor whenever it suits his 
fancy; but the Chesterfieldian doctor is doing splendidly in Memphis 
and has a practice of which many of the older physicians would be 
proud. He is a gentleman of the highest ideals, and with his fine 
natural ability combined with thorough medical training his pros¬ 
pects are bright indeed for achieving great distinction in his pro¬ 
fession. 


Dr. E. W. Irving. 

The affable and congenial subject of this sketch is a native of the 
great State of Ohio, the state that has produced more great men in 
proportion to its area than any other two states in the Union. The 
Ohio man is said to be the most adventurous in this country. He is 
ubiquitous. He has gone into every state of the Union and identified 
himself with its institutions and helped to turn its wheels of progress. 
He is a source of perennial inspiration and usually wrests from most 
adverse conditions a measure of success impossible in others. We are 
unable to account for the unbounded success of the Ohio man; we 
do not know whether it is in the breed or the soil, but it is probably 
in both. 

Doctor E. W. Irving was born in Circleville, Ohio, where he en¬ 
joyed educational advantages such as the great North only is capa¬ 
ble of providing. He graduated with honor and at school enjoyed a 
popularity not even enjoyed by the wealthy and talented white 
students of the same school. He was a member of his Alma Mater’s 
crack baseball team and was a veritable “Casey at the Bat.” Many 
a time did his trusty bat play fearful havoc with the atmosphere 
and make the spirits of the dead mound builders thereabouts trem¬ 
ble and in terror seek refuge in their lofty mounds. 

Coming South to seek the main chance, the doctor for several 
years was successfully engaged in the profession of teaching, which 
he finally abandoned for the more desirable and more remunerative 
duties of the medical profession in which he has gained success and 
wealth. He has a practice second to no physician in Memphis, and 
his patients entertain for him the most loving regard. He has a cor¬ 
dial smile, a kind word and a welcome grasp for everybody, and 
the man with the overalls on receives the same consideration as the 
man with the silk plug tile. The doctor’s physique has increased 



38 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


with his professional and financial success, and in appearance he 
can as easily take his seat among the bloated bond-holder§ of Wall 
Street, as among the physicians of the first rank in Memphis. He 
is prominently connected with the Solvent Savings Bank of Memphis, 
and is interested in other business enterprises. He has an elegant 
home on Bankers Row, or St. Paul avenue, and this home is pre¬ 
sided over by a gracious, loving and talented wife. 


Dr. J. H. Jenkins. 

This pleasant and quiet physician may properly be called the 
Tall Sycamore of Montgomery County, for it was in this thriving 
county of West Tennessee that his infant hands were first held out to 
touch the big, round moon. In youth he enjoyed the best educational 
advantages that well-to-do parents could afford and received a 
liberal training. His outward appearance bears the impress of 
culture and refinement. The Doctor has scored a success in more 
than one field of activity. At one time he was a postmaster in his 
home county, and was the only colored man ever thus honored. 

For several years he was one of the most successful teachers in 
his section of the State, and made a lasting reputation in that 
capacity. He abandoned teaching to pursue the study of medicine at 
Meharry Medical College, and is a graduate of that institution. He 
has successfully practiced his profession in Memphis for quite a while 
and is known far and wide as a well bred, gentlemanly man. He is a 
member of quite a talented family, one of his sisters being a teacher 
in the Memphis city schools, and the other a student in the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Department of Meharry Medical College. 


Dr. A. N. Kittrell. 

The jovial, handsome, Filipino looking medical doctor concerning 
whom this sketch is written, is a native of the great State of Georgia 
—the Empire State of the South—the State that has given to the 
country great material resources and great men. Bereaved early in 
life and left without the protection, encouragement, and inspiration 
of his dear mother, yet that inspiration which she, when living, had 
implanted in his youthful breast caused him to endure willingly the 
hardships that he suffered in order that he might gain the prize of 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


39 



DR. A. N. KITTRELL 


his youthful ambition—a good education. By his own efforts he 
completed with honor the high school course in his home city, 
Macon, Ga., and supplemented that with higher educational train¬ 
ing at Clark University, Atlanta. Believing in the training of the 
whole man, he pursued a course in the Industrial and Mechanical 
arts at the famous Tuskegee Institute and mastered one of the most 
successful and remunerative trades that a man can learn—the brick 
layers’ trade. In his subsequent efforts to complete his profes¬ 
sional education, his skill as a Master Mason was of incalculable 
benefit. Both in the South and in the North he plied his trowel, side 
by side with the best workmen in the country, and suffered nothing 
in ability in comparison with them. He graduated from the medical 
college in 1905, and in the same year located in Memphis, where he 
has been eminently successful as a medical practitioner. In the ex¬ 
amination before the State Board of Medical Examiners in the sum¬ 
mer of 1905 Dr. Kittrell enjoyed the unique distinction of being 
the only successful applicant and the same character of success has 
followed him in the practice of his profession. The industrial life 
that the genial doctor led before taking up the practice of medicine 
developed his muscular system to a remarkable degree and nearly 
all of this strength was concentrated in his dukes, with which he is 
in a class by himself. 


40 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Dr. Fannie M. Kneeland. 

The lady forming the subject of this sketch enjoys the honor of 
being the only colored lady physician in Memphis, and to an admira¬ 
ble degree demonstrates the possibilities and abilities of women in all 
the walks of life in comparison with men. The doctress was born 
and educated in the State of Tennessee. Having lost her parents at 
comparatively an early age, she was thrown wholly upon her own 
efforts, not,only to support herself, but also to rear her younger sis¬ 
ters and brothers that were dependent upon her. Few young women 
thus burdened with responsibilities would have succeeded so well. 
The average young woman is confronted with quite a serious re¬ 
sponsibility when she has only herself to support, and even then 
many utterly fail and are finally forced to drink the dregs of ruina¬ 
tion and shame; but the doctress seems to have been made of sterner 
stuff. Not only did she struggle, sacrifice and deny herself to rear 
those whom Providence had committed to her care, but she toiled and 
strove to educate them along with the education of herself. In all 
her efforts she was successful and no greater praise has been merited 
in this commumnity than that praise that should be bestowed upon 
the subject of this sketch for the loyalty and fidelity with which 
she carried out her trust. 

She graduated with honor from Meharry Medical College, Nash¬ 
ville, Tenn., and for several years has successfully pursued the prac¬ 
tice of medicine in her adopted city. She has a very large practice 
all over the city of Memphis and is the favorite physician of hun¬ 
dreds of women. Notwithstanding her extraordinary struggles and 
difficulties she has been successful in accumulating some of the goods 
of this world; she has a lovely home on St. Paul avenue, and with 
continued health and strength her property possessions will grow to 
even greater proportions. The doctress is quite a speaker and has 
always been conspicuous in the movements for the elevation and im¬ 
provement of the women of her race. 


Dr. W. H. Luster. 

Dr. W. H. Luster is a native of the state of Mississippi and be¬ 
gan his professional career as a school teacher in his native state. 
In the course of a few years he tired of the profession which gave 
such meager returns in a financial way for the great efforts ex¬ 
pended on it, and began the study of medicine at Meharry Medical 
College from which he graduated with honor. 



41 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 

The quiet and gentlemanly doctor is a man of bright intellect 
and one of the shining lights of the medical profession in this com¬ 
munity. Before taking up the study of medicine he had been a 
professor in the great state school for colored people in Mississippi 
Alcorn University—and had brought to the investigation of the 
science of medicine a trained intellect of unquestionable power. 
About five years ago he located in Memphis and has enjoyed the 
greatest success in the practice of his profession. He has an exten¬ 
sive practice and in many sections of the city the people will not 
think of having any other physician in their homes and the riot act 
will greet any other physician that has the rashness to tramp with 
unholy feet on the quiet doctor’s sacred territory. The doctor has ac¬ 
cumulated a comfortable fortune since beginning the practice of 
medicine. He has a beautiful cottage on S. Cynthia street and 
property in various sections of the city. He has an interesting 
family of bright little people and a charming lady to preside over a 
happy home. 


Dr. R. G. Martin. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Sunny Tennessee. He 
was blessed with good opportunities and a good home. His good 
mother is still living and enjoying the blessings of health and rea¬ 
sonable prosperity and the doctor’s successful life has been, no 
doubt, due to the sacrifice and inspiration of his dear old mother. 
As may be said of so many other successful men, he taught school 
for several years prior to beginning the study of medicine. He 
completed his medical course at Meharry Medical College in 1893, 
and immediately began the great work of ministering to and re¬ 
lieving the sufferings of mankind. In the practice of his profes¬ 
sion he has gained marked success. No other physician in the 
community stands higher in public estimation in point of medical 
knowledge and ability. In conferences with his fellow physicians 
his knowledge bears the weight of authority, so skilled is his diag¬ 
nosis and so unerring the remedy. He is the recognized official head 
of the medical fraternity of Memphis, having been honored with 
the presidency of the Bluff City Medical Association of Memphis. 
He has a very large practice and this practice covers the whole 
city of Memphis and its environs. Dr. Martin is an orator of no 
mean ability and a first-class' man on general principles. He has 



42 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


achieved success in everything that he has ever attempted and is a 
bright example of the possibilities of the colored race in this 
country. He comes from a race of giants, physically and intel¬ 
lectually, tho’ in his case, it is the intellectual side, rather than 
the physical, that suggests the giant. The medical profession in 
Tennessee is honored by such an able practitioner as Dr. R. G. 
Martin. 


Dr. Wm. S. Martin. 

The subject of this sketch was born in the state of Mississippi, 
where his parents now reside. His advantages were good as his 
parents were able to give him the best. After attending the com¬ 
mon schools in his State, he came to Memphis and attended Le- 
Moyne Institute, from which he graduated with great credit. The 
same year he entered Meharry Madical College, Nashville, Tenn., 
and graduated from this famous institution at the expiration of 
four years constant and unremitting study. He was an interne at 
Mercer Hospital, Nashville, and in this capacity derived much 
practical benefit preparatory to the practice of his profession. He 
located in Memphis, seemingly the paradise for successful physi¬ 
cians, and has done splendidly in his profession. He is a quiet, 
pleasant, congenial man with the faculty of making himself agreea¬ 
ble to everyone and this characteristic has drawn to him a great 
number of friends,. The doctor is alright and his professional suc¬ 
cess is alright, too. 


Dr. A. G. McCoy. 

Dr. McCoy hails from the great state of Mississippi. He re¬ 
ceived his academic training at Tougaloo University. He taught 
school in his native state for eight years and was one of its leading 
teachers. He pursued the study of medicine for three years at 
Meharry Medical College and then completed his course at the 
Knoxville Medical College. He located in Memphis but recently, 
but he finds this city an inviting field for professional work. His 
wife is a practicing physician and pharmacist in Knoxville and is 
holding her own professionally in that end of the state as the doc¬ 
tor himself is creditably holding his own in this end. 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


43 


Dr. A. C. McCully. 

The worthy physician with the name so suggestive of the Em¬ 
erald Isle, was born in Tennessee. He was educated in the com¬ 
mon schools of the State and graduated from Lane College, Jackson, 
Tenn. He engaged in the profession of teaching for six or eight 
years, but abandoned it to pursue the study of medicine. He gradu¬ 
ated from Meharry Medical College in 1901 and has successfully 
practiced his profession in Humboldt and in Memphis. Since coming 
to the Bluff City he has built up a splendid practice and is rapidly 
forging to the front in his profession. He is a quiet, cultured, 
thoughtful man and commands the respect and best wishes of all 
who know him. He is nicely and conveniently located in New 
Chicago and is one of that section’s best citizens. 



Dr. A. C. McKissack. 

One of the youngest and most promising physicians in Memphis 
is Dr. A. C. McKissack. As is the case with so many other prom¬ 
inent colored men his eyes first saw the light of day in the state of 
Mississippi. He was born in the town of Holly Springs, and not 
far from beneath the towering oaks that surround his alma mater. 
From his earliest infancy he enjoyed every educational advantage 
that it is possible for a young man to enjoy. His distinguished sire 




44 THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 

has for a generation or more been connected in the capacity of pro¬ 
fessor with Rust University and the son was accordingly brought 
up in an atmosphere of refinement and culture; and this particular 
fact is evident to any one that has the pleasure of his society. At 
an early age the doctor graduated from the collegiate department of 
Rust University and subsequently received the degree of Master of 
Arts from the same institution. In the same year that he received 
his bachelor’s degree he matriculated at Meharry Medical College 
and completed the course in the shortest possible time. Immediately 
after his graduation in medicine he pursued a special course in 
electro-therapeutics and gained expert knowledge of the application 
of electricity to the cure of the diseases to which human flesh is 
heir. He practiced his profession for eighteen months in the city of 
Nashville before locating in Memphis to practice. His office is elab¬ 
orately furnished with medical apparatus and facilities and few 
other offices in the city can compare with it for convenience and 
up-to-dateness. Among the many valuable medical apparatuses that 
he has in his office is a Bertman Static Machine with X-ray attach¬ 
ment. It is a machine as wonderful in its curative results as it is ter¬ 
rifying in its mechanism and is destined to work great results in 
the art of healing among the colored people of Memphis. Dr. Mc- 
Kissack is a bright example of the rare instance when wealth is not 
a handicap to one in the struggle of life, but a real and substantial 
assistance. He has never known even a moment of want. He was, 
figuratively speaking, born in four-leaf clover and has walked on 
velvet all his life and yet he is just as manly and just as gritty as 
if he had made his entire way unaided. His recent marriage to a 
talented and charming lady of his native state will, no doubt, be 
the greatest inspiration of his life and his professional success will, 
in all probability, be as great as his selection of a help meet for life 
has been fortunate. We tender our congratulations to them and 
wish for them the success and happiness of a long and prosperous 
life. 


Dr. A. McNeace. 

This sterling young physician with a swell name is said to be a 
native of the state of Mississippi, and the author accepts this kind 
information as a fact inasmuch as that great state has furnished to 
Tennessee the majority of Tennessee’s successful men. The people 
of Memphis take considerable pride in Dr. McNeace because he was 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


45 


educated in one of the city’s best private institutions of learning— 
LeMoyne Normal Institute, from which he graduated. He is a gradu¬ 
ate of Meharry Medical College, and a creditable representative of 
that famous institution. He has succeeded well in the practice of 
medicine and has had the judgment and foresight to locate in Bing¬ 
hamton, where the clash of competing physicians is not so strong. He 
is doing great work and meeting with that success commensurate 
with his work. He belongs to that class of young physicians that come 
well prepared for success in their profession as soon as they receive 
their diplomas. The community welcomes such professional talent 
as the doctor possesses and will bestow upon him a worthy patron¬ 
age. 



Dr. D. B. Miller. 


The subject of this sketch was born in Alleghany county, Pitts¬ 
burg, Pa. He is one of the best educated men in his profession, hav¬ 
ing received every advantage of a liberal education. He is a gradu¬ 
ate of Lincoln University and received the degree of Master of 
Arts from his Alma Mater. He graduated from the theological de¬ 
partment of this famous school in 1895. For four years he was 
principal of one of the leading public schools of Martinville, Va., 





46 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


and demonstrated his ability as a successful teacher. He is a grad¬ 
uate of Meharry Medical College. The doctor is really an able man 
with versatile accomplishments and is capable of achieving success 
in any undertaking requiring ability of a high order. Few men have 
had his advantages and fewer still have so well used their advant¬ 
ages, for personal and public good. 

The doctor, since locating in Memphis, has been very successful 
in his profession and has a great deal more to show for his success 
than most of the others that have been here no longer than he. He has 
two swell, up-to-date vehicles, and a magnificent horse, and makes 
an appearance befitting a successful physician. He is an affable, 
courteous, kindly gentleman with a helping hand extended to every 
worthy cause. He is going to make his professional mark in Mem¬ 
phis and the older physicians here will soon have to sit up and take 
notice. 


Dr. E. E. Nesbit. 

The affable, fashionably attired physician answering to ‘this name 
is one of the most popular young physicians of Memphis. He is a 
native of Tennessee, and has lived within the borders of this state 
for his whole life. In his early school life he was a pupil of Grant 
School; subsequently he attended Howe Institute, and graduated 
with credit from this well-known institution of learning. He is a 
graduate of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., and from 
the beginning of his professional career he has been successful. He 
is a fine example of energy; self-confidence and determination, and 
these qualities have played a very conspicuous part in his success. 
He is an idol among the good people of North Memphis, and uni¬ 
versally popular. His office is favorably located and is fitted up 
with up-to-date medical conveniences and appliances. The doctor 
has the real professional air without affectation, and the real profes¬ 
sional ability without exaggeration. As a specialist he has been suc¬ 
cessful and as a general practitioner he has shown ability of the 
highest order. He is courteous, pleasant and kind and merits all 
the success he has achieved. 


Dr. F. R. Newman. 

This erudite and elegantly attired young physician was born in 
Harrisburg- Pa. He is a graduate of the Harrisburg high school and 
lacked only a short time of completing his collegiate course. He 
began the study of medicine at Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., and 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


47 


graduated with high honors from the Medical Department of the 
University of West Tennessee. He enjoyed one year’s professional 
experience in the Harrisburg Hospital, and is the second colored 
man that ever had a similar opportunity. In the Harrisburg Hos¬ 
pital he took special work on diseases of women and children and 
in this specialty he has gained much success. Since locating in 
Memphis he has treated patients from all the adjacent states and 
has been successful in several cases that had been given up by other 
physicians as incurable. The doctor has an up-to-date office fitted 
up with all necessary medical appliances. He has a Campbell 
X-ray and High Frequency Coil Electrical Machine with Florescope 
attachment. This is one of the most effective and up-to-date elec¬ 
trical machines on the market. This is an age of electricity and 
many diseases incurable by other methods are reached successfully 
thru electrical agencies. The doctor is doing the community a 
great service by purchasing such an invaluable machine. With this 
machine any foreign substance solid in character lodged in the body 
order to remove it. Dr. Newman is one of the professors of the Uni¬ 
versity of West Tennessee, and one of its most honored graduates. 
He has ability of the highest order and will soon take name among 
the giants of the professional. 


Dr. L. G. Patterson. 

Dr. Patterson is a nephew of Dr. C. A. Terrell of this city and is 
a native of the great state of Alabama. He enjoyed educational 
advantages second to none and had the benefit of the training and 
experience of his uncle. He is a graduate of Howe Institute, Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn. He, also, attended Rust University, Holly Springs, 
Miss. He is associate physician with his uncle in the Terrell-Patter- 
son Infirmary of this city, and has shown great skill as a physi¬ 
cian and surgeon. 


Dr. G. F. Pinskston. 

The great state of Mississippi, so prolific in natural resources and 
so productive in great men, again comes to the rescue of the Volun¬ 
teer state by sending to it one of its most successful and able phy¬ 
sicians in the person of Dr G. F. Pinkston. Judging from the hand- 
may be brought to view, and proper remedial agencies resorted to in 




48 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


some doctor’s appearance his life has been one long benediction. Na¬ 
ture seems to have rejoiced in the making of him for she endowed 
him with gifts physical and intellectual out of the ordinary. His 
educational training was obtained at Meridian Academy—one of 
the leading academies of Mississippi. He had an experience of two 
years in the teacher’s profession but elected to pursue the study of 
medicine. He is an alumnus of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, 
Tenn., and a worthy representative of this famous institution.. For 
four years he has practiced with great success his profession in 
Memphis and is now considered not only one of our leading physi¬ 
cians, but one of our most promising young men. He has acquired 
valuable property interests in Memphis, and has had exceptional suc¬ 
cess in his profession. He is a pleasant, unassuming gentleman with 
an air of quiet, business-like determination which indicates the 
man. He is prominent in business and popular in social circles, and 
is altogether a man with a brilliant future for professional and 
financial achievement. 


Dr. W. T. Prater. 

The young physician bearing this name is a native of Tennes¬ 
see and a recent acquisition to our growing city. Unconsciously he 
seems to have obeyed the injunction of the lamented Horace Greely 
to go west and grow up with the country. He was educated at 
Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tenn. He taught school for five years 
but decided to take up the study of medicine. He graduated from 
the Knoxville Medical College and practiced medicine in Knox¬ 
ville before locating in Memphis. He is a scholarly gentleman and is 
bound to make his professional mark. The doctor does not weigh 
as much as some of the other physicians weigh in avoirdupois, but 
in brain he is in it with the best. If valuable commodities come 
in small packages the worthy doctor is the very personification of 
professional value. He has a good practice in Orange Mound and in 
other sections of the city and his practice will be largely increased 
as soon as his ability is more generally known. 


Dr. B. L. Ruffin. 

Dr. Ruffin is a native of the Volunteer State and was educated in 
its schools. He received his academic training at Walden Univer¬ 
sity and began the study of the medical profession at Meharry Med¬ 
ical College from which he graduated in 1904. He has practiced 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


49 



DR. B. L. RUFFIN 

with success both in Memphis and in other sections of Tennessee, 
and is a worthy represen l ative of a noble profession. Dr. Ruffin is 
the personification of pleasantness and good nature, and it is not 
surprising that he succeeded in wooing and winning his estimable 
wife, who is a graduate of Kortrecht high school, of this city. The 
doctor has a large practice and substantial prospects for the future. 


Dr. Chas. H. Shelby. 

Shelby county, in the grand old Volunteer State of Tennessee, 
has many things of which it is justly proud, but it is not prouder of 
anything else than of its own name of Shelby. The name of 
Shelby is a name to conjure with and few men can bear its weight 
with indifference. The splendid young man bearing the name of 
this sketch is a home product. He was born in Memphis and has 
spent his whole life in this city. He is a shining example of what 
ambition and oneness of purpose can accomplish in the life of any¬ 
one. He enjoyed no special advantages in early life other than 
what the average boy of our race enjoys. At a tender age he was 
left on his own resources to make his own way and he manfully 








50 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


stuck to the task, and finally succeeded. He worked his way step 
by step through college and depended wholly upon his own efforts. 
He thoroughly assimilated the principles of medicine and graduated 
with honor from Meharry Medical College. After his graduation 
he located in his home town to practice his profession and has 
achieved a success which is gratifying alike to himself and his 
friends. Dr. Shelby is a gentleman of charming personality. He 
is perfect simplicity in taste and manners and no amount of pro¬ 
fessional success could cause his hat band to expand beyond its 
usual measure. He is happily married and a charming -son has 
blessed the union. He has a beautiful home on Adelaide street and 
prospects of the brightest in every department of success in life. 


Dr. C. A. Terrell. 

The eminent physician forming the theme of this narrative is a 
native of the state of Alabama. Having'in youth enjoyed splendid 
educational advantages in his native state, at an early age he began 
the profession of teaching which he followed successfully for several 
years. Having decided to take up the profession of medicine he 
entered Meharry Medical College, from which he graduated with 
great distinction, and settled down to the practice of medicine in 
the city of Memphis, Tenn. He is one of our oldest practicing physi¬ 
cians and one of the most successful. His experience in the practice 
of his profession in Memphis was gratifying from the very begin¬ 
ning. and in less than the course of a year he was one of the leading 
physicians. He has a bright mind and can understand and elucidate 
the most abstruse principles of jnedical science. He is a well in¬ 
formed man and has a library of great value which he has for use 
rather than for ornament. His practice in Memphis has always been 
very large and has been of such proportions that he could hardly 
do justice to it alone. He is the founder and promoter of the Ter- 
rell-Patterson Infirmary, located at 159 Beale avenue, in the city 
of Memphis, and his successful treatment of the many serious cases 
committed to his care is evidence of his proficiency in the healing 
art. Patients from far and near come to Memphis to avail them- 
selv'es of the excellent treatment provided for them at this infirm¬ 
ary and untold good has resulted from the skill and ability of the 
man at the head of this great institution. Fortune has smiled 
abundantly upon Dr. Terrell, and he has flourished like a greenbay 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


51 



DR. C. A. TERRELL 






52 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


tree. He has accumulated much valuable property in Memphis, and 
each succeeding year finds him wealthier than before. He has a 
modern, up-to-date home on East Georgia avenue and lives in the 
style befitting a successful and wealthy physician. His home is an 
ornament to the community and reflects great credit upon both the 
taste of the owner and the possibilities of the medical profession. 


Dr. A. L. Thompson. 

The quiet, gentlemanly physician that is the subject of this 
sketch, is a native of the state of Tennessee. He is a practitioner of 
long experience and great skill, and has practised medicine in sev¬ 
eral of the states of the federal union. He located in Memphis after 
coming here directly from the Lone Star State where he had suc¬ 
cessfully practiced his profession. He is a classmate of Dr. J. C. 
Hairston and these two experienced and distinguished physicians 
make a combination that is hard to beat. The writer would be 
delighted to narrate for the pleasure of the doctor’s many friends 
and admirers some of the exciting scenes of the doctor’s youth, but 
the writer regrets to say that he has not received any definite in¬ 
formation as to whether the genial doctor had any youth. In fact, 
there is an impression prevailing, which impression can not be traced 
to any reliable source, that the quiet and lovable doctor has always 
been grown, and that, like the Greek heroes of mythology, he sprang 
from the soil. If this information be true, it, no doubt, accounts for 
the unusual fortune and good luck of this pleasant gentleman all 
through life. 

It is our belief that the doctor can, without an umbrella over him, 
go through a heavy down-pour without getting the least bit wet; 
and that if any body on this mundane sphere can find the bag of 
gold at the curved extremity of the rainbow it is the worthy doctor. 
It is claimed that the doctor has never even lost a button off 
his clothes inasmuch as his person is not affected by the ordinary 
laws of gravitation and that in youth no buttered biscut of his ever 
descended to terra firma. Be these reports as they may, we are pos¬ 
itive of one thing and that is that the doctor has one of the most 
elegant and up-to-date homes in Memphis. It is thoroly modern in 
every particular and compares in every respect favorably with the 
residences of some of the wealthiest white citizens of Memphis. 
We also know another thing—that the doctor’s powerful rabbit foot 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


53 


was in evidence in his selection of a wife; for he led to the altar 
one of the most charming young women of the city of Memphis and 
her cheerful companionship is enough to keep permanent the smile 
of satisfaction that he wears. 


Dr. G. L. Williams. 

There is an old saying that “blood will tell,” and we are con¬ 
vinced of the correctness of this adage so far as it is exemplified in 
the case of the subject of this sketch—Dr. G. L. Williams. He is 
descended from some of the best blood of his native state, his father 
being Prof. J. A. Q. Williams of Holly Springs, Miss., one of the 
best known and most influential colored men in the state. Like his 
distinguished father, doctor Williams is of large and imposing stat¬ 
ure and towers like a Colossus above puny mortals like the writer. 
Dr. Williams was in a manner born to the purple. His whole life 
has been cast in pleasant places and he has never known harrowing 
want or aching care. No other youth in the land has enjoyed better 
advantages of educational training. He completed his academic ed¬ 
ucation at Rust University and received his degrees from that insti¬ 
tution before he had reached his majority. He then supplemented 
his collegiate training with a course in medicine at Meharry Medical 
College from which institution he graduated at an unusually early 
age and with great distinction. Instead of locating in his native 
state to practice his profession, he elected to settle in Memphis, 
where unlimited opportunity and possibility are within the reach 
of all, and experience has demonstrated the wisdom of his action. 
For a young man in professional experience his success has been 
great. His most sanguine moments could not have anticipated the 
splendid success that has been his. His practice has steadily grown 
from the beginning until its proportions have become gratifying in 
the extreme. He is a young man of fine scholarship and is well pre¬ 
pared to contest for supremacy in his chosen profession. Nature has 
been generous beyond stint with him. He is blessed with both brain 
and brawn—the twin requisites of modern civilization. His propor¬ 
tions are Goliath-like, but no modern David with his smooth little 
pebble can penetrate his medical armour and destroy his profes¬ 
sional success. He is the business manager of the Union Drug 
Co., of which his father is president, and maintains comfortable 
quarters for his office in the same building. Recently the young 



54 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


doctor stole a march on his friends and went to his native state 
and brought back with him a beautiful blushing bride. With her 
presence to encourage and stimulate him his success in the future 
will be even more pronounced than in the past. 


Dr. J. W. Winchester. 

This gentleman with the aristocratic cognomen first saw the light 
of day in the grand old state of North Carolina. In youth he re¬ 
ceived the very best training and he graduated from the classical 
course of Bennett College, Greensboro, N. C., and then began the 
study of medicine at Leonard Medical College, Raleigh, N. C., 
which institution is one of the departments of the famous Shaw 
University, which has graduated so many distinguished men. He 
received hospital training at Freedmen’s Hospital, Washington, 
D. C., and took his final examinations at the University of West 
Tennessee from which school he graduated with honor. The doctor 
is a scholarly man with an investigating turn of mind and it will 
not be surprising if he should make some discoveries in medical 
science that will be of great benefit to the human race. He is one 
of the professors of the University of West Tennessee and is popu¬ 
lar alike with students and faculty. Though his professional work in 
Memphis has been short he is now generally and favorably known 
as the coming physician of Memphis. He is genial, affable, and 
pleasant in the extreme and already numbers his friends in this 
community by the hundreds. No man with such a high-sounding, 
aristocratic name can possibly fail. 


Dr. W. B. Woods. 

Dr. Woods was born in the State of Tennessee. He attended Le- 
Moyne Institute from which he graduated. He pursued the study 
of medicine in Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., from 
which institution he received his diploma. We are personally ac¬ 
quainted with Dr. Woods and know something of his aspirations 
and serious intentions in life. He has a splendid educational foun¬ 
dation on which to build professional success and we have no doubt 
that time will show him to be one of our most successful physi¬ 
cians. 




DOCTORS of DENTAL 
SURGERY 


Dr. G. P. Bell. 

The talented gentleman that is the subject of this narrative is a 
native of the proud old commonwealth of Mississippi and enjoyed 
the best advantages afforded by its educational institutions. Hav¬ 
ing received a liberal education be began his career in journalism 
in his native state and achieved considerable distinction as an able 
and fearless writer. He finally abandoned in part the work of a 
journalist and began at Meharry Medical College the study of 
dental surgery. Having graduated with great credit he settled 
down to practice his profession in the state of Kentucky, but after 
a short professional experience there he decided to come to the 
Bluff City and locate. His success in the practice of his profession 
here has been great and he is one of the city’s leading dentists. He 
is the son of Rev. B. R. Bell, pastor of the Jackson Avenue Baptist 
chuch of this city, and is a worthy son of a reverend sire. The doc¬ 
tor is a versatile genius. He is equally at home in the practice of 
dental surgery or the practice of law. He is a graduate in law, hav¬ 
ing received his L. L. B. degree from one of the best law schools 
in the great state of Illinois. He is thus well equipped to be of 
great service to his race. He can relieve their intense physical suf¬ 
fering caused by unsound and aching teeth, or he can, to an equal 
degree, relieve their mental anxiety caused by fear of lawful punish¬ 
ment for an indiscreet life. The doctor is of fine intellect and court¬ 
ly appearance and even in these days of financial stringency he 
seems to be the personification of prosperity. His immaculate shirt 
front and well groomed figure are indicative of roses in his pathway 
instead of thorns. 


Dr. J. C. Clark. 

One of the most successful, resourceful, skillful and accom¬ 
plished dentists in the city of Memphis, if not in the entire South, 
is Dr. J. C. Clark. He seems to have an innate insight into the struc- 




56 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ture and needs of the human teeth. He has the reputation of being 
a mechanical expert and is master of all the most recent ideas con¬ 
cerning dental surgery. He has an original mind and dares to go 
out of the beaten paths of dental surgery in order to demonstrate a 
theory of his own. He enjoys one of the largest and most select prac 
tices of any dentist in the state of Tennessee and is regarded as the 
peer of any one in the business. He is a jovial, good-natured, sensi¬ 
ble young man, blessed with the happy faculty of attending to his 
own business and passing over the affairs of other people. He has a 
loyal and true little wife with two interesting children and will con¬ 
tinue to succeed in the future as he has so well done in the past. 


Dr. John H. Seward. 

This young man with the historic surname is one of the most 
recent accessions to the ranks of the practicing dental surgeons of 
Memphis, but in the short time in which he has been established he 
has gained a very good practice, everything being considered. He 
has elegant and commodious quarters over the Union Drug Store, 
on South Third street, and they are furnished with appliances of 
the most modern character. The doctor is a pleasant gentleman of 
large and commanding presence and the most refractory molar 
would have to yield behind the pull of two hundred pounds of ath¬ 
letic avoirdupois. He has auspiciously begun his career and the 
best wishes of his friends attend him in his efforts. 


Dr. D. W. Fields. 

The oldest and most experienced dentist in the city of Memphis 
is the subject of this narrative, who has been actively engaged in 
dental practice since the year of 1889. He is a native of the state of 
Tennessee and descended from a w T orthy parentage. He is a mem¬ 
ber of a very large family, all the members of which are noted for 
their industry, thrift and fidelity to duty. Several of the different 
professions are represented in the personnel of the family and great 
success and distinction have been achieved by several. Dr. D. W. 
Fields is not only a skilled dentist with a large patronage, but he is 
a great church worker and a successful business man. His life in 
the community has been exemplary and he enjoys the confidence and 
love of a host of friends. His early investments in property in the 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


57 


suburbs of Memphis have resulted in great financial gain to him and 
his former fortune has been increased many fold so that now he is 
regarded as one of the wealthiest colored men in Memphis. He is 
an excellent gentleman and a race-loving, God-fearing man, and 
every one that knows him not only rejoices because of the turn that 
fortune has taken in his favor, but sincerely wishes that it may con¬ 
tinue to increase until it rivals that of the Croesus of old. 



Dr. H. H. Kennedy. 

The quiet, genial, oriental looking young man bearing this name 
is a native of the proud and growing metropolis on the high bluffs of 
the Mississippi river. He is probably one of the best and most fa¬ 
vorably known young men in all Memphis and enjoys the best 
wishes of a host of friends. His parents are some of the city’s lead¬ 
ing citizens and are materially connected with its growing interests. 
Mr. Kennedy is professionally young in years, but old in experience 
and horse sense. He has shown a peculiar proficiency in dental sur¬ 
gery and has built up a practice of splendid proportions in the few 
years in which he has been engaged in the profession. He has nicely 
fitted up apartments at 159 Beale avenue, and uses only the most 
modern and up-to-date methods. He has a thorough knowledge of 
the principles of dental surgery and is destined to achieve eminence 
in the practice of his profession. 







58 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Dr. A. L. Nicholson. 

The young dental surgeon whose name is at the head of his nar¬ 
rative, is a brother of Dr. Walter D. Nicholson, of this city, whose 
sketch succeeds this; and the same commendable things written 
concerning Dr. Walter Nicholson, apply with equal force to Dr. A. 
Nicholson. Dr. A. L. Nicholson is young in years but full of pro¬ 
fessional promise. He seems to have an intelligent grasp of the 
principles of his profession and will in time secure his full share 
of public patronage. 


Dr. Walter D. Nicholson. 

The subject of this short sketch is a “home boy,” as the ex¬ 
pression is generally used. He is the son of a prosperous truck 
farmer, living just outside of the corporate limits of Memphis. 
He is a graduate of the dental department of Meharry Medical 
College for the year of 1908, and is now fitted up with modern ap¬ 
pliances and is thoroly prepared to relieve suffering humanity 
from its most excruciating ills. It has been the pleasure of the 
writer to visit his dental parlors and the writer was pleased be¬ 
yond expression not only with the thoroughly modern conveniences 
with which his parlors are furnished, but with his self-confidence and 
determination to succeed. 




The COLORED LAWYERS 
of MEMPHIS 


Of all the professions that require innate gifts and talents of the 
highest order the profession of law is considered the greatset. In no 
other profession are the responsibilities weightier and the financial 
rewards greater. It requires great learning, fine power of analysis, 
cogent reasoning, and ability to think profoundly while standing 
on one’s feet in the heat of legal conflict and argument. Its ef¬ 
fective weapons are reason, eloquence and the skillful presentation 
of the law favorable to the interests at stake. The men engaged in 
the profession should be men of unimpeachable integrity and char¬ 
acter. The obligation of the lawyer to his client should be carried 
out without a single variation and any other action tends to bring 
the profession into disrepute or contempt. 

In the matter of able and brilliant colored lawyers practicing at 
the bar of Memphis, the colored people are to be congratulated. 
They have an aggregation of the ablest and best equipped lawyers 
in the state of Tennessee. For over thirty years the colored peo¬ 
ple of Memphis have been ably represented at the bar of public jus¬ 
tice, the pioneer in the profession having been Hon. T. F. Cassells, 
one of the craftiest, most resourceful, and most learned lawyers, 
regardless of race, that ever practiced at the Memphis bar. 

The profession of law is the only one that gives opportunity to 
the colored man to measure arms and break lances in legal combat 
with the representatives of every other race under the sun. The 
medical profession does not afford such an opportunity, as there is 
seldom a conference between physicians of the two races. Further¬ 
more, in the practice of law the judiciary are white, the great body 
of legal practitioners are white. Thus there is every incentive for 
the colered barrister to try to conquer and win his case. He is com¬ 
pelled to meet antagonists whose ancestors wrested the Magna 
Charter from King John and who have inherited legal training just 
as they have inherited other personal characteristics. He is com- 



60 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


pelled to meet men who were born to the purple and had every ad¬ 
vantage of opportunity and training to prepare themselves for their 
chosen work. 

A great deal can be said along the line of commendation con¬ 
cerning the courts and bar of Memphis in their relation and attitude 
toward the colored lawyer. So far as the writer has been able to as¬ 
certain there is no great amount of complaint and dissatisfaction on 
the part of the colored lawyers either with the judges or with the 
juries. The judges are men of the greatest ability and the most ex¬ 
alted character and can be depended upon to be fair and impartial 
in their administration of the law. It is said that no other city 
in the South gives to its colored lawyers a fairer hearing and a more 
unbiased judgment than the courts of Memphis. 

In the city of Memphis are twelve lawyers that are legally 
qualified and actively engaged in all the different courts in the 
practice of their profession. Some of them have been very success¬ 
ful and enjoy the respect and confidence of the whole bar. Several 
of them have accumulated great wealth and are now in easy circum¬ 
stances and well prepared for the rainy day. 


H. M. Bomar, Esq. 

The ambitious and talented young man bearing this unusual 
cognomen is a native of Tennessee and enjoys the distinction of 
being the youngest colored lawyer at the bar of Memphis, and even 
now being comparatively a youth. His advantages in life were very 
limited and he was forced by circumstances to rely wholly upon self. 
He is to a great extent a self-made man and can boast of no favors 
from others on the road to success. Early in life he resolved to be¬ 
come a lawyer and bent all of his energies toward the attainment of 
this one ambition. He toiled and sacrificed and struggled until that 
benign power, that helps those who help themselves, provided the 
way. 

He began the study of law under Chancellor E. L. Bullocks, of 
Jackson, Tenn. The chancellor was learned in the law, painstaking 
in explanation and inspiring in presence and helped the prospective 
lawyer to lay an enduring foundation. Mr. Bomar completed his 
legal studies under the tutorage of that matchless lawyer and gifted 
teacher, Hon. B. F. Booth, of the Memphis bar, and the information 
and training received from him has very largely determined Mr. 
Bomar Vj professional success. 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


61 


Mr. Bomar was admitted to the bar in 1897 and practices in all 
the courts. In his general practice he has been very successful. 
Some of his greatest legal successes have been in connection with 
habeas corpus cases, concerning which he is said to have had the 
largest practice in Memphis. The fees that he has received in con¬ 
nection with some of these habeas corpus cases have been of goodly 
proportions. As an orator he is forceful, fluent, graceful and elo¬ 
quent. He has a style peculiarly his own and is always interesting 
and impressive. For a young lawyer he has a large and growing 
practice and the coming years may bring him such overwhelming 
success that he may at some time be at the head of the Memphis bar. 


B. F. Booth, Esq. 

The distinguished and eminent subject of this sketch is a native 
of the great state of Mississippi. In early life he enjoyed the best 
advantages of home and school training and graduated with honor 
from one Of the leading institutions of learning of his native state. 
While in school he gave undoubted evidence of superior skill in 
mathematics and this skill has, on more than one occasion, turned 
toward him the tide of legal victory. In one of his famous causes 
in the United States District Court he won a great damage suit be¬ 
cause of his thoro knowledge of mathematics as appalied to natural 
philosophy. His elucidation of the scientific principles involved was 
so clear and masterly that both judge and jury unhesitatingly ren¬ 
dered a verdict in favor of his client. It is very often the case that 
a condition or assertion is capable of mathematical demonstration 
and if the success of counsel depends upon his ability to prove or 
disprove a contention by mathematical principles the importance of 
a thoro education is at once evident. 

After his graduation he taught school for several years and 
gained the front rank in the teacher’s profession. The same fidel¬ 
ity that he now shows to the interests of his clients he showed to 
the interests of the pupils committed to his care. He was the princi¬ 
pal of the city schools of Bolivar, Tenn., and enjoyed a long and 
successful tenure of office therein and it was with the greatest reluc¬ 
tance that his resignation was accepted in order that he might en¬ 
gage in the practice of law. 

When a very young man he was seized with a great determina¬ 
tion to study the principles of law and become a great lawyer. He 



62 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


entered the teacher’s profession but it was not with the inten¬ 
tion of permanently pursuing it; so at the earliest convenient time 
he resigned the work for the practice of law. He studied the prin¬ 
ciples of law under Col. Inge, one of the ablest lawyers of the state 
of Mississippi and at one time speaker of the Mississippi house of 
representatives. He was admitted to the bar at Bolivar, Tenn., and 
came from that place to Memphis to practice in 1888. 

As soon as Lawyer Booth arrived in Memphis he was employed 
as counsel in the celebrated contested election case of L. B. Eaton 
vs. James Phelan and in taking depositions in this case it was neces- 



B. F. BOOTH, Esq. 

sary for him to visit most of the precincts in the four counties 
forming the Tenth Congressional District of Tennessee. In doing so 
he disployed great ability and gave an example of moral courage 
that is unusual under such peculiar conditions. 

In the twenty years of his practice in Memphis he has achieved 
unparalleled success and this success staggers belief. Twenty years 
ago he came to Memphis a perfect stranger to most of its citizens; 
now he is one of the best known and most successful lawyers in the 
whole South. His clientage is so great that it is nearly a physical 
impossibility for him to attend to it and for years he has been in 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


63 


great need of a first-class lawyer to assist him in his enormous prac¬ 
tice. He is one of the ablest, and from every standpoint, one 
of the most resourceful lawyers at the bar, and can readily shift his 
legal sails in order to weather almost any gale. He is a many-sided 
lawyer and has a comprehensive knowledge of all the branches of 
the law. His inclinations tend in the direction of civil law and in 
this special department of practice he has gained fame and wealth. 
In criminal law he has had unbounded success. No client of his has 
ever suffered capital punishment and this is a remarkable experi¬ 
ence for a lawyer that has represented, probably, as many clients in 
the past twenty years as any other lawyer in the South. His fees in 
several individual instances have been unusually large. He has been 
paid the largest fee of any colored barrister south of the Ohio 
river and the largest to any colored lawyer in the United States 
with the exception of Edward Morris, Esq., of Chicago, Ill. With 
such a large clientage and such unusual fees in so many cases it is no 
wonder that he has accumulated such a handsome competency. 

In his large practice before the Supreme Court of the state and 
in the United States District Courts he has won the admiraxion of 
judges and jurors alike. His simple style, his unerring reasoning, 
his legal learning and modest bearing have given him great weight 
with the luminaries of the profession and he now stands securely on 
a pedestal of fame impossible in a mind less gifter in its legal attain¬ 
ments. He has accumulated much property in various sections of 
the city of Memphis and all of it has appreciated in value. He has 
a home in keeping with his legal success—a home in which taste and 
elegance are displayed without stint. He lives in a swell section of 
the city and has a commodious home, a charming wife and a pre¬ 
cocious child. 


T. W. Bradford, Esq. 

The worthy and honorable gentleman concerning whom we are 
writing in this sketch was born in the city of Memphis and is 
probably the only colored lawyer now practicing at the bar in Mem¬ 
phis that can claim such a distinction. As a general rule a prophet 
is without honor in his own country and must necessarily go else¬ 
where to make his mark. Such, however, has not been the experi¬ 
ence of Mr. Bradford, for right in the city of his nativity he has 
gained success in his chosen profession. 

Mr. Bradford is a man of more than ordinary experience. He 
has seen life in many of its varied relations. He has dared to do 
whatever honorable that his hands have found to do and has never 



64 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


been a kid-glove, molly-coddle, afraid and ashamed of honest toil 
He is a man that has made his own way. Having always had a set 
purpose in life to do something worthy and to be somebody, he early 
began preparation for the purpose of realizing this desire. Depend¬ 
ing upon his own personal efforts he studied hard and denied him¬ 
self of many things craved by the fashionable and unambitious. In 
this manner he laid the foundation of a strong and mastering intel¬ 
lect. Largely by his own efforts he mastered the principles of law 
and prepared himself for admission to the bar. 

The circumstances under which he was admitted to the bar in 
1894 are so much out of the ordinary that it may be of interest to re¬ 
late them. His examination was in open court and participated in 
by the whole bar present. It was a free-for-all examination and any 
practicing attorney had the privilege of hurling a legal javelin at 
him, and each one present exercised this privilege. It is evident to 
anybody how easy it might have been to disconcert or confuse a can¬ 
didate under such unusual circumstances; but Mr. Bradford was 
thoroly grounded in the principles of the law and passed his examin¬ 
ation with great credit. 

He practices in all the courts but prefers to make a specialty of 
civil law in the practice of which he has been very successful. He is 
a lawyer of splendid ability and conscientiously looks after the in¬ 
terests of his clients. His practice is good and growing in a 
gratifying manner. He is a man of splendid character and the 
highest ideals and would not lend his efforts to any cause that is 
wrong or questionable in its intent. He is a quiet, earnest, honest 
lawyer and merits the best wishes and patronage of all. 


S. S. Carter, Esq. 

The gentleman bearing the name heading this sketch is one of 
Ihe best known citizens and lawyers of the city of Memphis, having 
been a resident of this city the greater part of his life and having 
practiced his profession here for twenty years. The great state of 
Tennessee claims his nativity. 

The career of Mr. Carter has been full of absorbing interest and 
rivals the pages of fiction. The writer can liken the subject only to 
the courtly knights of the middle ages. 

In the years covering the period from 1882 to 1884, Mr. Carter 
was assistant foreman of the folding room of the United States 
House of Representatives at Washington, and performed his duties 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


65 


with credit. After terminating his official career in Washington he 
returned to Memphis and began the study of law under Hon. W. H. 
Carroll and Hon. Casey Young. It is doubtful if any other student 
ever began the study of such an abstruse subject as law 
under more auspicious conditions. Each of his instructors was an 
authority on the principles of jurisprudence. Each won fame and 
wealth from the profession and the one that still moves, breathes 
and has his being in the walks of life is the acknowledged dean 
of the Memphis bar. 

Mr. Carter was admitted to the bar from the office of those able 
attorneys that had prepared him and he was received upon their 
recommendation. He was enrolled as a practicing attorney in the 
United States District Court in 1900, and in the Supreme Court of 
the state in 1905. He is a man of broad and ripe experience in the 
law and has achieved a success that only competence of the 
highest order can achieve. In the course of his practice he has been 
connected with sixteen murder cases of the first degree which is an 
experience that does not fall to the lot of the average lawyer. Of 
this large number of men whose lives were in the very shadow of the 
gallows, he cleared eight and only one of them expiated his crime on 
the gallows. He is a man that has done much for the colored race. 
In several instances involving the welfare of members accused of 
crime and defenseless he has courageously thrown himself into the 
breach in order to see that justice was done. His moral courage is 
superb and he never stands irresolute or craven with fear if any 
great principle of justice affecting his people is at stake. He has the 
decision and courage of a Henry of Navarre and those who follow 
him may follow his white plume to victory. 


M. D. Fleming, Esq. 

The handsome, distinguished-looking gentleman forming the 
subject of this sketch was born in the state of Mississippi—the state 
whose climate and soil seem to be productive of great men. He be¬ 
gan the practice of his profession in his native state in the year of 
1888, and continued until his removal to Memphis in the year of 1891. 

A very singular occurrence in connection with his admission to 
the bar in the State of Mississippi may be of interest to our readers. 
He enjoys the distinction of having been one of the very few ap- 
plicants in the State of Mississippi that were examined by the Su¬ 
preme Court of the State, sitting in a body, for admission to the 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


66 

bar. It is the usual custom for judges of the Inferior Courts to 
examine candidates for admission to the bar and to pass upon their 
qualification; but in the case of Lawyer M. D. Fleming all precedent 
was disregarded and the highest tribunal in the State passed upon 
his legal attainments and set the seal of its approval upon them. 

He has been connected with the bar of Memphis since the year 
of 1891, and is considered by all as one of the shining lights of the 
legal fraternity. He is a man of distinguished bearing and court¬ 
ly presence and seemingly w T ould be at perfect ease in the presence 
of King Edward the Seventh. He is as interesting in conversation 
as he is thorough in the knowledge of the law and any one will be 
well repaid for the effort to gain his society. He seems to have some 
very clear and definite ideas of right and wrong with reference to 
the action of his race and he is fearless in his advocacy of the doc¬ 
trines that he preaches. He is an orator of great ability and can 
soar on the wings of eloquence to heights as great as his stature 
is imposing. He is a lawyer whose training, skill, and learning are 
up to the highest standard and his success at the bar of Memphis 
has been worthy of his great talents. There is nothing little about 
him, either in character or stature. He measures up to the full de¬ 
mands of his profession and his ability commands the respect and 
wonder of the whole Memphis bar. 

A. J. Hal, Esq. 

The subject of this sketch is a man of unusual ability and ver¬ 
satility. He was born in the State of Louisiana, but was educated 
in the grand old Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is a man of 
great scholarship. He is one of the most talented and intellectual 
men of the race. He is a graduate of Boston University, one of the 
greatest institutions of the land. For several years he was a gifted 
member of the teachers’ profession and occupied the chair of 
mathematics and language in Gilbert College, Baldwin, La. In the 
year of 1896 he began the study of the ministry at Gammon Theo¬ 
logical Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., and thoroughly prepared himself for 
the duties of this high calling. Notwithstanding the fact that other 
fields of labor in addition to the ministry have claimed his atten¬ 
tion, yet he has never hesitated to show to the world that the min¬ 
istry has his first and last efforts. He is president of the Anna Hal 
Industrial Seminary of Memphis and one of the leading Bishops of 
the Independent African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man 
of great erudition and, in his various capacities, is capable of doing 
untold good. 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


67 


In addition to being a teacher and a divine the distinguished sub¬ 
ject of this sketch is a lawyer of good ability and prospects. It is 
but natural that the mind that could grasp the principles of teach¬ 
ing and theology ought to be able to understand the principles of 
law. It is a popular idea that the principles of law and theology 
are conflicting and that no man can serve both of these masters at 
the same time. So far as we have been able to understand we have 
never seen in the practice of the legal profession any provisions that 
are antagonistic to the principles of religion. The law is a rule of 
action commanding what should be done and forbidding what 
should not be done and it seems to our humble vision that there is 
no great conflict between the two. There is no reason why a man 
that is in character a good preacher, should not in character be in 
a good lawyer. Certain it is that the subject of this sketch does not 
cast off the robe of Christianity whenever he takes up the cause 
of the weak and distressed; for there is something in justice that is 
close to religion, and true religion will demand justice for every man. 


Edward Johnson, Jr., Esq. 

The congenial and able gentleman bearing this name is a native 
of Georgia, popularly called the Empire State of the South. Georgia 
is indeed a great state and produces everything on a big scale, as 
may be seen by the imposing stature of the gentleman in question. 
At a very tender age, the subject of this sketch was brought to Mem¬ 
phis by his father and has made this city his permanent home. 

In early life it was the privilege of the writer to attend school 
with him. We both were young then and the storms of many win¬ 
ters had not raged over our heads. It was my privilege to know 
something of the character of his opportunities and the nature of 
his struggles. His chances for education were not of the brightest, 
and his efforts to make a headway in life were unremitting. 

His father having been a master mechanic, from his earliest boy¬ 
hood the subject of this sketch was, by his father, trained in the 
same business and became one of the most accomplished mechanics 
in the city of Memphis. Out of pure love and respect for his father 
rather than for any love of mechanics he continued in the work until 
after he had reached his majority, when he resolved to take up the 
study of law. His resolution to study law was not a sudden impulse, 
but it was the result of years of serious intention and his splendid 
success in the legal profession shows to a great degree the serious 
character of his determination. He read law under Judge Bigelow, 



68 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Hon. T. F. Cassells and Lawyer B. F. Booth, all leading lawyers and 
eminent in their legal attainments, and it is seldom the case that 
any student of law enjoys the instruction of such an able array of 
legal talent. 

He was admitted to the bar in 1898, and consequently has had 
ten years of valuable experience at one of the most distinguished 
bars in the whole country. He is a general practitioner and has 
won splendid success in his profession. In the United States Circuit 
Court of this city he had the unique honor of conducting one case 
for a period of four days, and he looked after the interests of his 
client with such consummate skill and ability that he received the 
commendation of the united bar. He is a lawyer with a bright fu¬ 
ture and is destined to become as thorough a master of law as he 
was master of mechanics. 



T. H. Johnson, Esq. 

The jovial, companionable and talented gentleman bearing the 
good old English name of Johnson bears the distinction of being 
one of the foremost attorneys at the Memphis bar. He is a native 
of the State of Tennessee and has been identified in various fields of 
usefulness in the State of his birth. 





THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


69 


His life is a bright example of the possibilities of American life 
even for a colored man. He enjoyed no uncommon advantages in 
life. Largely through his own efforts he laid the foundation of a 
good education on which to build a successful career. He knew 
what it means to deny self and concentrate one’s whole efforts in 
the direction of attaining one’s life ambition. He was a teacher 
of prominence for ten years, and only abandoned it to go into the 
practice of the legal profession, in which he has achieved great sue- 
the talented son lias called his home ever since, 
cess. He is an alumnus of Howe Institute of this city, and is the 
pride of his Alma Mater, upon which his great success has cast such 
undying lustre. 

He began the study of law at Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., 
but subsequently went to Walden University, Nashville, Tenn., in 
order to complete his legal studies. He studied his legal studies 
with great assiduity and gained a thorough insight into the great sci¬ 
ence of law. Having pursued and completed the course of law with 
exceptional honor, the great University conferred upon him the de¬ 
gree of L. L. B., and sent him forth into the world to exemplify the 
thorough character of the training that he received under its fos¬ 
tering care and guidance. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and 
has been honorably connected with the profession ever since that 
time. He has been a notary public since 1903. He is a general prac¬ 
titioner, but prefers civil practice. 

Mr. Johnson has done remarkably well in the practice of law. 
His success has been very gratifying and he has much in a sub¬ 
stantial way to show how prosperity has smiled upon him. In a 
legal capacity he has been connected either as principal or associate 
counsel with some of the most important cases before the Memphis 
bar and his connection therewith has been attended with great hohor 
to his own legal attainments and great satisfaction to the interests 
involved. He is a lawyer of untiring industry and never allows him¬ 
self to sleep on the rights of those whose interests are intrusted to 
his care. He is a legal strategist and tactician, and can fence 
around and hedge behind a string of technicalities that would dis¬ 
comfit a Philadelphia lawyer. He is the quintessence of good na¬ 
ture and is incapable of anything that smacks of deceit or dishonesty. 
He has nearly reached the top rung in the ladder of legal success 
and has reached a degree of legal eminence from whose dizzy heights 
he may look down with 1 complacency, knowing that he has well 
merited every iota of his success. He has a splendid modern home 
on East Georgia avenue and a loving wife that has contributed her 
share toward the happiness of this home. 


70 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


G. W. Reynolds, Esq. 

Acccording to the tradition that all wise men come from the land 
of the rising sun, the subject of this sketch first opened his eyes in 
the State of South Carolina. In his infancy his parents emigrated 
west to the State of Tennessee and located in Memphis, which city 



G. W. REYNOLDS, ] ( 

His father, G. W. Reynolds, Sr., was one of the greatest me¬ 
chanics of his day and was not only an authority in his chosen 
occupation of millwright, but he was an inventor that revolutionized 
the cotton industry of the South and in a great measure was a 
benefactor to the whole human race. His father was a man of 
great stature, courtly presence and powerful intellect, and in his 
practical knowledge of mechanics and philosophy he could put 
to shame many a learned college professor. It was the happy ex¬ 
perience of the writer to share the kindness of his home for several 
years, and he had ample opportunity to fathom and wonder at the 
extraordinary intelligence and profound ability of the remarkable 
man in question. 

In early life Lawyer Reynolds followed the business of a mill¬ 
wright and gained in it nearly as much distinction as his eminent 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


71 


father, and if he were inclined today to doff the toga of barrister 
and return to the fields of his earlier successes in mechanics he 
would be welcomed with wideopen arms by a host of those that 
are well acquainted with his great ability. 

The subject of this sketch has had experience in life that would 
harmonize well w T ith the strangest stories of fiction. In youth he 
was a creature of unbounded ambition to accomplish some worthy 
object in life. No one made better or more incessant use of mid¬ 
night oil in study than he. As soon as the rewards and sacrifices of 
his efforts would permit he went off to college, first to Berea Col¬ 
lege in Kentucky and subsequently to Oberlin University. In these 
two institutions he received a liberal education and laid the founda¬ 
tion for his present legal success. He gained his knowledge of the 
law in some of the best institutions of the land and is thoroughly 
prepared for the mastery of his profession. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1893 and has creditably performed the duties of his pro¬ 
fession. He has a comfortable practice and has had no disappoint¬ 
ment as to the success that he had hoped to achieve in the profes¬ 
sion that he so worthily honors. His practice is of a general char¬ 
acter and his success has been gratifying in each branch of his 
practice. 

Lawyer Reynolds is a penman of great skill and in this beau¬ 
tiful art he would have hardly any superiors if he were inclined to 
aspire for distinction. 

He is a courteous, quiet, unostentatious gentleman with an in¬ 
tellect as bright and forceful as his appearance is commanding. 


H. R. Saddler, Esq. 

The successful lawyer bearing the name of such an honorable oc¬ 
cupation in life is a native of the State that seems to be the 
breeding place of distinguished men—the great State of Mississippi. 
His early educational training was received in the schools of his na¬ 
tive State and completed in the State of Tennessee, to which his 
parents had emigrated and brought him. He is an honored alumnus 
of one of our best local institutions of learning, and one to whose 
success it points with conscious pride. 

Even when very young the distinguished subject of this sketch 
gave, in the literary society of his first Alma Mater, evidences of that 
distinction in address and forceful oratory that the opportunities of 
his profession have afforded him, and few occasions were considered 
complete without an exhibition of his oratorical graces. Endowed 



72 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


with such rich gifts and having such an auspicious and fruitful field 
for their display, it was only natural that he should have selected a 
profession that would not only furnish him unlimited opportunity 
for exercising his gifts, but would also bring him ample financial 
returns. Accordingly, after his graduation, he matriculated in the 
Law department of Walden University, Nashville, Tenn., and earn¬ 
estly pursued the study of the profession in which he has gained 
merited success. Having received the degree of L. L. B. from the 
same institution, he returned home and was admitted in 1896 to the- 
practice of his profession. Pie was honored by the County Court of 
Shelby in 1896 with the appointment of notary public and executed 
the necessary bond for the faithful performance of his duties, which 
he has done up to this time. 

He was the founder and Dean of the Law Department of Lane 
College, Jackson, Tenn., for a period extending from 1900 to 1903, 
and performed the duties of his exalted trust with signal ability. 
He practices in all the courts but makes a specialty of chancery prac¬ 
tice in which his success has been very gratifying to himself and 
friends. 

He has gained distinction as counsel in the Supreme Court of 
the State of Tennessee, before which tribunal he appears yearly to 
plead the cause of his clients. The number of his cases before this 
august tribunal is said to be nearly as great as those of any other 
counselor of color at the Memphis bar. He has a judicial trend 
of mind and weighs every contention in the scales of impartial ju¬ 
dicial analysis. He is a young man of bright legal promise and has 
merited in his profession a success that many an older lawyer has 
struggled to achieve in vain. 


J. T. Settle, Esq. 

The courtly, amiable and pre-eminent barrister bearing the illus¬ 
trious name at the head of this sketch is a native of the great old 
North State, which is famous for the production of eminent and 
peerless men. Descended on the side of his sire from a distinguished 
family, it is but natural that in the son should have been sown the 
seeds of greatness that would fructify into a distinguished and noble 
career. 

The early life of the distinguished lawyer was as calm and peace¬ 
ful as the halcyon days of golden autumn when Nature, in seeming 
awe, is preparing for its transition from the dull life of autumn to 
the cold death of winter. He knew nothing of pressing want or 
painful solicitude. He enjoyed all the advantages that comfortable 
circumstances could bestow and had the opportunities of the most 
fortunate American boy. The struggles that might have been his to 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


73 



J. T. SETTLE, Esq. 

enable him to triumph over adverse circumstances were reserved for 
the arena of school life and well did he struggle to gain the mastery. 

In his infancy the parents of Lawyer Settle moved to the State 
of Ohio, where their talented son might enjoy the best educational 
advantages. He matriculated at Oberlin University, where he was 
a most successful student and a favorite son. He not only gained 
distinction as a scholar of the first magnitude, but imperishable fame 
on the various Varsity athletic clubs. He was a member of the im¬ 
mortal champion baseball club of his college, and on the field could 
do the circus-like stunts that would cause the eyes of his fellow- 



74 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


players to bulge out of their sockets and turn green with envy. He 
was a reliable and timely batter and his prowess with the stick 
brought consternation and woe to the enemy. 

For reasons that he thought to be advantageous he terminated 
his relationship with Oberlin University and cast his fortunes with 
Howard University, Washington, D. C., from which institution he 
received his bachelor and master’s degree. Immediately afterward 
he began the study of law in the law department of his Alma 
Mater and graduated from it with distinction, receiving the degree 
of L. L. B. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the 
District of Columbia in 1875 and in a short time thereafter he emi¬ 
grated to the State of Mississippi in order to practice his profession. 
While a resident of that State his talents were found to be of such 
high order that legislative honors were conferred upon him and he 
represented Panola county in the legislature of his adopted State. 
In this body of statesmen, noted for their learning and eloquence, 
he was one of the most learned and without question the most 
eloquent. It was an era in the deliberations of the House when the 
youthful member from Panola county claimed its attention, and the 
undivided attention of that body was always cheerfully given to 
his eloquent efforts. 

In the year of 1885, the eminent lawyer of ten years of valuable 
experience came to the city of Memphis where he might have broader 
opportunities and more congenial surroundings in which to practice 
his profession. A short while after coming to Memphis he was ap¬ 
pointed Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Court of Shelby 
county, an honor unprecedented in the history of Tennessee, and he 
performed the responsible duties of that high office with signal abil¬ 
ity. He was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Arkan¬ 
sas in 1885 and to the United State Supreme Court in 1903. He is 
the lawyer of greatest experience among the colored section of the 
Memphis bar, and his comparative ability is along the line of his 
experience. He is an orator of wonderful ability, and the efforts of 
Demosthenes on the Crown were not more felicitous and forceful 
than are his efforts on a grand occasion and in a cause of vital im¬ 
portance. A scion of a noble house, his all-consuming and lofty 
eloquence is suggestive of the towering mountains of his native State. 
His voice is rich and deep and seems to have been attuned to the 
music of the spheres. His success as a lawyer has been phenomenal 
and honorably achieved. His fame as an orator and lawyer has 
already been made and coming generations will be inspired by the 
magic of his name. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


75 


He has a talented and accomplished wife to preside as queen 
over his household and minister to his happiness and two interesting 
and ambitious sons, to brighten the evening of his eventful life. 


D. D. Sledge, Esq. 

The worthy and amiable counsellor whose name is at the head 
of this sketch is a native of the State of Alabama. Born in the very 
shadow of the fratricidal conflict that deluged this country in 
blood, he lost his dear father in this self-same struggle. The ad¬ 
verse fortune of war not only robbed him of father, but it robbed 
him of opportunity. His mother, a widow of the Civil War, and 
burdened with the responsibility and care of three other children, 
was in no position to assist him and accordingly he was forced to 
rely upon his own resources. 

That benign Hand that feedeth the sparrow and tempereth the 
winds for the shorn lamb, also looked after the infancy of Lawyer 
Sledge, and made it possible for him to secure the advantages of a 
common school education. Having thus been put into position to 
help himself, he began the profession of teaching and succeeded so 
well in it that he was able to complete his higher education in the 
State college of his adopted State in 1884. 

After his graduation he resumed the profession of teaching, but 
soon abandoned that profession for the study of law, which he pur¬ 
sued under two of the most famous jurists of the State of Mississippi 
—Hon. J. C. Longstreet, ex-Chancellor, and Hon. A. H. Whitefield, 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Having a desire to broaden his 
understanding by association and travel he quit the State of Missis¬ 
sippi and went to the Northwest, and while there he further pur¬ 
sued his legal studies and gained such proficiency therein that he 
was readily admitted to the bar of the State of Missouri in the 
year 1894. He followed the practice of law in St. Louis, Mo., for 
nearly three years and then came South again and located in Mem¬ 
phis in 1898. Since which time he has been successfully and hon¬ 
orably connected with the local bar. 

Lawyer Sledge is a quiet, gentlemanly man and enjoys the best 
wishes of all with whom he is personally acquainted. He is a lawyer 
of fine ability and his future career looks as bright and promising 
as his past career has been industrious and successful. He practices in 
all the courts with equal success and has made a reputation that is 
highly creditable to the profession of which he is such a worthy 
exponent. He has a cultured and talented wife to cheer his pathway 
and a bright set of children to gladden and make happy his life. 



76 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


The COLORED TEACHERS of MEMPHIS 


No class of professional workers have contributed more to the 
cause of worthy citizenship and good government than the loyal, 
devoted, consecrated teachers in our public and private schools; and 
yet we are not so sure of the fact that the teachers receive that con¬ 
sideration from either the State or the Nation that their long ser¬ 
vice and fidelity to duty entitle them. Republics are said to be 
proverbially ungrateful, and this fact is well demonstrated in the 
attitude of the great American Republic toward its teachers. Up to 
this time no satisfactory provision for superannuated teachers has 
been made either by the State or the Nation, and only the generous 
munificence of Mr. Andrew Carnegie has saved the whole Amrican 
Nation from lasting disgrace. The poor teacher thus neglected may 
be considered in the light of the ancient worn-out horse that is first 
neglected and then abandoned, and turned out into the dry pasture 
to die a humiliating death, after its days of usefulness are over. The 
teacher is of greater intrinsic value to the Nation than the soldier; 
and yet the Nation utterly neglects the teacher, while it liberally re¬ 
wards the soldier who has not made any greater sacrifice for his 
country. The teacher stands as an insurmountable barrier between 
his country and war, and is really a preventive of war; for in pro¬ 
portion to the degree of a Nation’s intelligence does the need of the 
soldier become less. It is a fact verified by the experience of his¬ 
tory that the further a Nation is removed from a state of barbarism 
the less inclined are its people to wage war. Thus the mission of 
the school teacher is in the direction of peace and in thus freeing 
the nation from the possibility of war the teacher is doing it a 
greater service than the soldier whose active mission is not to avert 
war, but to try to conquer after its horrors have been experienced. 

In the city schools of Memphis are employed over ninety colored 
teachers, many of whom have seen years of faithful and honorable 
service. Three of the colored principals have already had twenty- 
four years of continuous service in the city schools and one subordi¬ 
nate teacher has had even a greater experience. 

The tenure of service in the city schools is indefinite and depends 
upon ;he efficiency, faithfulness, good health and character of the 
teacher. As a whole the colored teachers of Memphis are capable 
and faithful and compare favorably with any other teachers in the 
Southland. 



THE BRIGHT BIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


77 


There is but little wealth among the teachers. This fact is not 
due to extravagance, but rather to the fact that the scale of wages 
in the teachers’ profession is lower than in any other of the so- 
called learned professions. Moreover in some quarters the teacher 
is supposed to be a Missionary and to have his reward waiting for 
him in the other world. 

The financial returns of the teachers in comparison with the 
lawyer or doctor are laughable. The teacher has a master, but the 
lawyer has not. The salary of the teacher is limited to a certain 
amount per annum, but the income of the lawyer or doctor depends 
entirely upon his ability, which only he himself can regulate. 

The public demands much of the teacher, and rightly so. It 
grudgingly doles out to him a pitiable salary and in return expects 
him to be a paragon of industry and civic virture. It exercises cen¬ 
sorship over his every act and demands that all of them conform with 
all the proprieties of life. It expects him to be a worker in the 
Sunday school and church, a leader in the social world; a power in 
a political capacity and a general utility engineer to run the ma¬ 
chinery of the whole world. Of course the teacher does not suc¬ 
ceed in all of these capacities, but he is a very important factor 
for service and usefulness and is the fifth wheel in the affairs of 
the Nation. 


PUBLIC SCHOOL FACTS of INTEREST 


So closely identified with the life of the community are the public 
institutions of learning that any facts of importance concerning them 
ought to be of great public interest. No intelligent citizen will even 
attempt to deny the fact that the maintenance of the public school 
system is the first duty and final hope of the Nation. This being 
true, it is evident that any exposition of facts showing whether or 
not the people of a community are doing their whole duty toward 
the support and encouragement of their schools should be of vital 
importance. 

In the beginning it may be embarrassing and humiliating for the 
intelligent colored people to know that the proud and prosperous 
city of Memphis suffers greatly in comparison with the other large 
cities of the South in respect to the cause of public education among 
the colored people. In proportion to their great school population 
the per cent of enrollment in the colored public schools of Memphis 




78 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


is said to be the lowest in the South. By referring to the statistics 
prepared for the Board of Education of the city of Memphis for 
the year 1908 it may be seen that the scholastic population of the 
colored people is 22,585, while the total enrollment in the colored 
public schools is 5,350. By the simple process of division we find 
that the per cent of enrollment is 23.68, per cent or less than one- 
fourth of the school population. What do these figures signify? 
They show that not quite one child out of four colored children of 
school age attends the public schools of Memphis and that for some 
cause the other three children are deprived of this greatest privilege 
of youthful life. In our opinion this is a serious condition of affairs. 
Where is the vast army of more than 17,000 children of our race? 
What per cent of them is forced by circumstances to stay out of 
school and what per cent of them is not? Where are they? It is 
apparent to any observing mind that they are not, as a whole, en¬ 
gaged in gainful employment, for the sections of the city where 
they live are teeming with thousands of them growing up in idleness 
and in crime. It is not our right to presume that the parents of this 
host of children are not doing their whole duty, but according to 
our feeble understanding there is something radically wrong, and it 
is the duty of those in leadership and authority among our people to 
sound the clarion notes of warning in order that they may be 
aroused to the danger of the situation and throttle the monster of 
indifference whose deadly tentacles hold them in their unyielding 
embrace. 

Since • the regular organization of the colored High School in 
the year of 1890 it has graduated over two hundred students, and 
nearly forty per cent of the teachers employed in the city schools of 
Memphis are either graduates of this school or students who received 
all of their training in this same school. One of its graduates is now 
the honored principal of Porter School, and his successful manage¬ 
ment of this school is creditable alike to himself and to his Alma 
Mater. 

Seventeen male teachers are employed either as principals or 
subordinate teachers in the colored schools of Memphis. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


79 


The YOUNG PEOPLE of OUR RACE 


In the very beginning of this article we freely admit that we are 
profoundly interested in the progress and future welfare of our 
race. A relationship of twenty-five years in the school room, en¬ 
deavoring to do the best we could to promote the welfare of our 
young people ought to be sufficient proof of at least a passing re¬ 
gard. It is an admitted fact that the future of any race depends 
upon the intelligence and character of its young people. If they be 
trained in habits of industry, economy, sobriety, thrift and upright¬ 
ness of character a foundation will be laid on which to build a great 
people. 

We desire to say emphatically that it is our firm belief that the 
parents themselves are largely responsible for the character of their 
children. If the parents are not responsible we are sorely perplexed 
to know the ones that are responsible. The sacred privilege of 
bringing the young people into the world has been conferred by 
Providence upon their parents, and this privilege carries with it 
the serious responsibility of parents exhausting every means in 
their power to bring their children up in the way that they would 
have them to go. 

In these degenerate days there is a great deal of criticism and 
censure heaped upon the head of the “Young Negro.” Seldom is 
there heard a single expression in praise of the “Young Negro.” 
Men who are perfectly rational and mild in their discussion of any 
other subject become frenzied and hysterical when discussing the 
faults and weaknesses of the “Young Negro.” They can see not a 
single virtue in the young negro and seemingly would as soon con¬ 
sign the young negro’s soul to perdition as they would try to 
rescue it from such a terrible fate. Why this eternal criticism of 
the young negro ? Is it productive of any good ? Does it encourage 
and stimulate him to become a useful citizen and an ornament to 
our social institutions ? We have serious doubts to the contrary. In 
our opinion, instead of wailing and gnashing our teeth and pouring 
out the vials of our wrath on the heads of the young negroes because 
they fail to measure up to the requirements of American life, we 
should hold up to censure the parents for having failed to do 
their duty in rearing their children. So far as the life of the child 
is concerned the parent has it in his power to mold it as complete and 



80 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


as beautiful as the sculptor molds the inanimate mass of clay into 
a semblance of life and beauty. The parent is the great central orb 
around which the family system must revolve and if for a moment 
this centre loses its attraction the whole family system will fly off 
into space and become disordered and deranged. The parent can 
no more shift the responsibilities of his exalted trust to the shoulders 
of others than he can commit to other hands the salvation of his 
own soul. It is just as easy to make the roaring cataract of Niagara 
reverse its course or to bail out the ocean with a spoon. 

We cheerfully admit that the young people of our race are 
burdened with some very serious faults of commission and omission. 
We admit that many of them are shiftless and worthless. We know 
that they suffer in comparison with the white youth, but all of 
these conditions wherein they are shown to disadvantage are with¬ 
in the range of reasonable explanation. The white child is born 
amidst an entirely different environment from the average colored 
child. Iq, its veins is the rich legacy of thousands of years of civili¬ 
zation. Its parents are people of education and culture. Why 
should the child not partake of its surroundings? In early life the 
white child is brought up in an atmosphere of business. It has direct 
access to the counting house and his youthful ears hear nothing 
but the jingle of the dollar and the stories of successful business 
adventures. Why should it not partake of its surroundings? In in¬ 
fancy the white child is taught the value of honesty, thrift, in¬ 
dustry and all the cardinal virtues. Why should it not profit from 
its teachings? Contrast the fate of the colored child and every fair- 
minded and reasonable man can account for the difference in the 
young people of the two races. 

All the young people of the Negro race are not shiftless and 
worthless. The majority of them are industrious. The number of 
loiterers and idlers around the public places is a mere bagatelle in 
comparison with the great industrial army that keeps the wheels of 
progress turning. It is gratifying to say that on the streets of Mem¬ 
phis any day may be seen a score of laboring men to a single spider¬ 
legged dude. There are thousands of energetic young men of our race 
that in a quiet, unostentatious way are doing their whole duty as citi¬ 
zens and measuring up to every requirement of American life. Their 
names are not published in the newspapers tp be scattered far and 
wide for the plaudits of the multitude, but their efforts are produc¬ 
tive of everlasting good. Notwithstanding the inequalities of life 
the ambitious young colored man asks for no special favors. He 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


81 


is willing to take his chances with all other American citizens. He 
wants only an even break and then, relying upon the providence of 
God, the young man of color will do the rest. 


THE COLORED MAN AS A. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYE. 

The government of the United States makes little or no discrimi¬ 
nation against capable colored men in its appointments to positions 
of public trust and responsibility. In the Civil Service department 
the number of colored employes constitutes one-ninth of the whole 
official list. In the whole country there are about six thousand 
colored employes drawing out of the federal treasury a sum in ex¬ 
cess of eight millions of dollars per annum. In the city of Wash¬ 
ington alone nearly three thousand colored officials are in the classi¬ 
fied service. 

A majority of the colored employes are in the postoffice depart¬ 
ment of the government, but gradually all the other departments 
are receiving their quota. About seven years ago the first colored 
girl was appointed to a position in the bureau of engraving and her 
appointment at that time created some comment; now there are two 
hundred colored employes in the same bureau. 

Certain political positions of great importance are, by the com¬ 
mon consent of both parties, conceded to the colored people. The 
Register of the Treasury is Hon. Wm. T. Vernon, whose salary is 
$4,000 per annum. His signature is necessary to give validity to 
the money of the United States. The assistant Register of the 
Treasury is Hon. Cyrus F. Adams, whose salary is $2,500 per annum. 

The Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia is Hon. John 
C. Dancey, whose salary is $4,000 per annum. Mr. Ralph W. Tyler 
is Auditor in the Navy Department and receives $4,000 per annum. 
It is no uncommon occurrence in the country at large to find colored 
men receiving over $2,500 per annum. The government of the 
United States gives to the colored man the greatest opportun ty fin- 
official honor and this honor carries with it a compensation com¬ 
mensurate with the honor. 


A COLORED GIRL THE CHAMPION SPELLER. 

In the summer of 1908 the National Educational Association 
convened in annual session at Cleveland, Ohio. Among the many 
attractions was a competitive spelling match, open to ail the city 
school svstems of the United States. The test consisted of one hun¬ 
dred written words and two hundred and fifty oral words. As is 




82 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


usually the case the match was carried out amidst much excitement 
and finally concluded with a tie between a white girl and a brilliant 
colored girl of Cleveland—Miss Bessie Bolden—both of woom re¬ 
ceived perfect marks. 

When the result was announced to the expectant and excited 
audience it was received with tumultuous cheers, and the colored 
girl that had so creditably maintained the intellectual power of her 
race was given an ovation. This well-merited and unusual honor 
demonstrates the fact that in the domain of excellence there is no 
color-line and that high intellectual and moral endowment is blind 
to race or previous conditions. 


SECRET SOCIETIES AMONG the 
COLORED PEOPLE 


Much has been said both in the spirit of criticism and in the 
spirit of praise concerning the relation of secret societies to the 
welfare of the colored people. Some consider secret societies the 
most dangerous foe to the progress, of the colored race, while 
others consider them an institution of great and lasting benefit. In 
our judgment it is possible that the advocates on one side and the 
critics on the other side both may fail to do full justice to the subject 
in question. 

It is our opinion that secret societies have done much good among 
the colored people and that they will ultimately be in position to 
do even greater good as soon as the principles underlying them are 
more generally studied and better understood. Our people are said 
to be a difficult people to unite. It is said that our natural inclina¬ 
tion is in the direction of disaffection, antagonism, and strife. If 
these assertions be true, we know no institution more necessary to 
the welfare of our race than the one that teaches and practices the 
doctrine of brotherly unity and love. The Church of God is the ideal 
institution that teaches and practices this great principle and next 
to the church the secret societies seem most emphatic in instilling 
this doctrine. 

Some people emphatically condemn secret societies on the ground 
that they furnish unlimited opportunities for official corruption and 
graft. It is possible Jhat in connection with secret societies there 
may be some graft but, an active, intelligent membership can reduce 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


83 


graft and every form of official corruption to a minimum. More¬ 
over there are very few institutions or conditions in life in which 
there is no opportunity for graft. This is an age of graft; it is 
everywhere. It is in the halls of legislation; it is said to be even in 
the sanctuaries of God; and if, perchance, there should be graft in 
connection with secret societies this fact does not make them a par¬ 
ticle worse than other institutions affording similar opportunity. 

Many of the bad features formerly connected with secret societies 
have been remedied. The men in authority now are more capable 
and business-like in the performance of their duties. The mem¬ 
bers are more intelligent than formerly and thus cannot be so readily 
imposed upon. They are more able to look after their interests and 
hold their leaders to a stricter accountability for their official acts. 

There is at present no great crusade being waged against secret 
societies, and it is probable that they are stronger than ever before 
in their hold on the affections of all classes of people. Thousands of 
the most intelligent and most influential members of the colored race 
are affiliating with fraternities and their active participation in the 
work has no doubt raised secret societies in the estimation of many 
who formerly regarded them with suspicion and disfavor. 

The ideas and methods of secret societies have changed for the 
better in the past few years. Formerly a great deal of stress was 
put upon fantastic grips, mysterious hand shakes and incompre¬ 
hensible pass words. There was not exercised such a careful dis¬ 
crimination in the admission of members. The paramount idea 
seems to have been the caring for the sick and the burying of the 
dead. They have greatly improved upon the old order of things 
and have tried to keep pace with the progressive spirit of the age. 
At this time nearly all the secret societies maintain an endowment 
department which guarantees a certain sum of money to the relatives 
of the deceased member in addition to the usual allowance for 
burial. This feature enables secret societies to compete success¬ 
fully with life insurance companies for the patronage of the colored 
people. It makes it possible for the fraternities to throw the strong 
arm of protection around the widows and orphans and shield them 
from the cold and unsympathetic charity of the world. It is a 
form of practical charity that means more than honeyed words 
of sympathy. Kind words mollify our feelings, but they don’t pro¬ 
vide food and clothing for our bodies, and money for the rent man’s 
pocket. 


84 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Secret societies have absorbed rational business ideas They are 
not now contented to rent their halls; they prefer to own them. 

The fraternities are becoming more and more like sensible busi¬ 
ness men. They are not hoarding in banks vast sums of money 
to invest in coffins and burial paraphernalia, but they are investing 
their moneys in business enterprises and in the accumulation of 
real estate. The Odd Fellows have made commendable progress in 
this particular respect. They have not, as a fraternity, slept on 
their opportunities, but they have had wide open eyes and have 
taken advantage of the main chance. The handsome three-story 
structure on S. Fourth street, their valuable real estate investments 
on Beale street and their large farming interests in the country are 
evidences of their material growth more substantial than mere 
words. The Masonic Fraternity has valuable real estate possessions 
in the city, and a commodious five-story building near the corner 
of S. Fourth and Beale avenue, and this building is a high testimonial 
to their common sense and business sagacity. 


HOW TO SAFEGUARD the WELFARE 
of OUR YOUNG PEOPLE 


The welfare of our young people is of paramount importance, 
for if the colored people desire to lay the foundation for a truly 
great race they must look well to the character of their young peo¬ 
ple. There is nothing that affects the character of an individual 
more than environment. Evil communications corrupt good man¬ 
ners. This is the declaration of Holy Writ and cannot be success¬ 
fully contradicted. Therefore it is of first importance that parents 
regulate the companionship of their children; for if they are per¬ 
mitted to associate freely with reckless and depraved characters, it 
is not difficult to predict what will befall them. 

Very few young people that have unlimited privilege to go and 
come at pleasure and to do as they please ever come to anything but 
grief. Youth is not the period of discretion and judgment and 
young people cannot be depended upon to act with mature judgment 
in matters pertaining to their welfare. There must be some one to 
regulate their conduct and action. They cannot be trusted to do 
what is best for their good. 

To a great extent the character of an individual may be judged 
by his associates. A person seldom finds pleasure in the companion- 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


85 


ship of people whose tastes, inclinations and habits are entirely for¬ 
eign to his own. If a young person prefers the companionship of 
reckless persons it is more than likely that he is inclined to journey 
the w r rong road of life. Therefore the welfare of our young people 
may be safeguarded by carefully regulating the character of their 
companionship. 

Obedience is Heaven’s first law, and the slightest deviation from 
it on the part of the young people will be attended with disaster. 
Most parents lose control over their children when the children are 
babies and seldom afterwards do they succeed in .regaining their 
control. It is a mistake for parents to love their children so well that 
they are unwilling to make their children obey. Children are not 
cherubs just from Heaven, but they are very much earthly in their 
nature. They have their wild fits of passion and frenzy just as older 
people and clinch and double up their tiny fists with all the pug¬ 
nacity of* a prize fighter. If this inclination of willfulness is not 
checked at the earliest possible moment the willful child will be¬ 
come the willful and unmanageable adult. We have seen children 
under such poor control that they would even laugh at their parents 
when ordered to obey. No child should be considered too good to 
be restrained and punished and put into the right path of duty, and 
if the parent fails to command the obedience of his child he is simply 
rearing it up for the penitentiary or the gallows. 

We can safeguard the welfare of our young people by trying to 
make their home life pleasant and happy. A happy home is the only 
real home; an unhappy home is merely a dungeon in which blighted 
hope and cruel disappointment dwell. The home of children should 
not be a place for warring gladiators to contest for supremacy; it 
should not be a place for cat and dog fights between the parents; it 
should not be a place for demoralizing conduct on the part of any 
member of the family. It should be a place where happiness and 
joy reign supreme. The outside world may be jarred by violence 
and tumult, but the home should be sacred from such an intrusion. 

Our young people’s welfare may be safeguarded by keeping vigi¬ 
lance as to their whereabouts. Half the time some parents do not 
know where their children are. A parent can not be responsible for 
the conduct of his children unless they are under his immediate per¬ 
sonal supervision at all times. No other person is capable of caring 
more for the welfare of children than their parents and no other 
person will more carefully see to it that the actions of the children 
conform to the proprieties and decencies of social life. Children 


86 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


should not be given too much privilege. A man’s own roof is a 
castle to his own family, while another man’s roof may be its de¬ 
struction and ruin. 

The welfare of our young people may be safeguarded by keeping 
them in school until they acquire an education sufficient to enable 
them to make their own way in life. Education is a power for 
usefulness and should be the priceless possession of every youth in 
the land. 


DOES the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
ENCOURAGE the PATRIOTISM of 
the COLORED PERSON? 


In a preceding article the general government was complimented 
for the fact that little or no discrimination is used in the appoint¬ 
ment of capable colored citizens to positions of trust and responsi¬ 
bility. We may also state that in the Federal Courts the colored 
man is given justice. The colored people highly appreciate the po¬ 
litical honors conferred upon their honored representatives. They 
are gratified beyond power of expression for the just administration 
of the law, but they have never been sure of the desire of the United 
States government to stimulate and encourage the patriotism of 
the colored people. In other words: Is the treatment of the colored 
citizen by the General Government such as would encourage him at 
any time, if necessary, to shed his life’s blood for his country? 

After calm and mature deliberation we have come to the conclu¬ 
sion that the United States government does not sufficiently en¬ 
courage the patriotism of its colored citizens. It is true that the 
colored man has always been a loyal citizen and a true patriot. Even 
when a mere chattel he was willing to pour out his blood like water 
in defense of the honor of the old flag. This being the case, it may 
be concluded that the patriotism of the colored man is so intense that 
it needs no encouragement and that whatever the Government may 
do affecting his interests as a citizen of this country will not alien¬ 
ate his devotion from the old flag. In this we think the powers that 
run the Government are sadly in error. 

The colored man has become a thinking man. Education has 
unfolded his faculties and enlarged his vision to such an extent that 
he does not blindly follow the idols of former days. He still loves 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


87 


the old flag and clings to it with true devotion, but he is not un¬ 
mindful of the fact that the old flag does not guarantee to every 
American citizon equal protection at home and abroad. If the 
patriotic feeling of the colored American has abated it is because he 
is thoroughly convinced that the old flag does not symbolize the 
same rights and privileges for him that it symbolizes for others. 
The thoughtful colored man has come to the conclusion that the gov¬ 
ernment for which he imperilled his life has become luke-warm in 
its appreciation of his patriotic services; that it regards him with 
cool indifference and considers him a burden too great for the 
Nation to carry. These reflections have caused the colored Ameri¬ 
can ’s patriotism to wane and it is now very difficult to convince him 
why he should sacrifice his life’s blood for the Nation that treats his 
rights with such cool indifference. He is not now so willing to offer 
up himself as a living sacrifice upon the altar of his country. Indeed, 
he is not sure that he is not a man without a country. 

The other races in this country cannot fully understand the feel¬ 
ing of uncertainty that fills the breast of the colored citizen with 
respect to the attitude of the general Government toward him. The 
general Government does not tell him exactly that he is not wanted, 
but existing conditions shoflr to him more effectively than words that 
the Government really feels that it can get along very well without 
his services. 

We have tried to think of some systematic effort on the part of 
the Government to encourage the patriotism of the colored man, but 
we have not succeeded in doing so. No colored applicant is now 
admitted either to the Military Academy at West Point, or the 
Naval Academy at Annapolis. These two institutions are the main 
centers whence comes the military strength that would fortify the 
Nation in the time of war and they are sources of perpetual patriotic 
inspiration. It is also common report that the Government does not 
encourage the enlistment of the colored man in the United States 
army. 

Possibly the most deadly blow struck at the patriotism of the 
colored man was the hasty and summary discharge of the veteran 
colored soldiers at Brownsville, Texas. We know nothing of the 
merits of this lamentable affair. The Chief Executive of the Nation 
in whom is vested mighty power, may have been right in the action 
taken, but right or wrong, he struck a death blow not only to the 
patriotism of the colored soldiers thus ignominiously discharged, but 
to the patriotism of the whole race. It showed to the colored people 


88 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


of the whole country more effectively than any other occurrence in 
its history how utterly indifferent to the race’s feelings the Govern¬ 
ment of th United States really is. The idea of inflicting such hasty 
and summary punishment upon men who had so long upheld the 
honor of the Nation was looked upon with unspeakable indignation 
by the whole race. If there be such a thing as mercy in the Ameri¬ 
can heart; if there be such a thing as true Christianity in the heart 
of the Chief Magistrate of the Nation, it should have been exercised 
toward those veteran soldiers involved in the Brownsville affair. 
The spirit of mercy and not of condign punishment should have 
been meted out to them. The spirit of the age is humane and not 
Draconian and should be exercised toward the colored man as freely 
as toward any other American citizen. His disadvantages in the 
race of life should invite the hand of compassion instead of chastise¬ 
ment. The President could have meted out less summary punish¬ 
ment, maintained discipline in the army, placated the feelings of the 
outraged citizens of Texas, and at the same time retained the affec¬ 
tion, loyalty and patriotism of the wdiole colored race. 

It is probable that the Government of the United States may 
think that it can get on without the strong, patriotic arm of the 
colored man. No government is stronger than its weakest citizen, for 
it takes the weak and the strong alike to uphold the power of the 
Nation. No man at present is so wise that he can guarantee that in 
the future of this country no crisis will arise that will demand the 
united action and undying patriotism of every citizen in it. In this 
era of blessed peace and general prosperity this country may do 
without the patriotism of the colored man, but who can say that in 
the next decade or in the next year the Tocsin of War will not 
sound and demand every citizen, black and white alike, to shoulder 
his musket in order to maintain the honor of the Nation. There 
was a time in the history of this country, and history has a strange 
way of repeating itself. 

This Nation should not forget its duty to all its loyal citizens, ir¬ 
respective of race or color. Its motto should be freedom and equal 
opportunity for all men. This Nation should not forget that the 
stone the builders once rejected became the head of the corner. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


89 


The KIND of EDUCATION for COLORED 
PEOPLE 


The particular kind of education for the colored people of this 
country is the most discussed question that agitates the public mind. 
Even men that have no education themselves and not a single, ra¬ 
tional, intelligent idea on any question involving the welfare of 
society, arrogate to themselves the power of knowing just the char¬ 
acter of the education the colored people should have in order to 
make them fit into their proper place in the complex system of 
American life. It must not be forgotten that the great country of 
America is a democracy in name only and has as much caste distinc¬ 
tion in it as there is among the Hindoos of India. This being the 
case, it becomes necessary to prepare every individual for his par¬ 
ticular place that he may properly fit in it. 

The question of the colored man in this country is a fruitful and 
never-ending theme of discussion. It is the literary and oratorical 
inspiration of every demagog on the political stage and the 
refuge for every man that has exhausted his stock of argument 
on all other questions. We have wondered what some of these 
great statesmen would do if they w T ere deprived of this great sub¬ 
ject on which to explicate their political dogmas and platitudes and 
fulminate their wrath; and we believe that the colored people are 
entitled to a liberal pension from those who have so long used them 
for their political aggrandizement. 

As to the character of the education for colored people, the 
general opinion outside of the race is, that it should be of the most 
rudimentary character and particularly' along the line of industrial 
and agricultural training so that they may be well prepared for the 
exigencies of that life which God and Nature seem to have decreed 
for them to live. From their standpoint God has created the colored 
man to live a purely agricultural and domestic life, and they think 
that his education should be along this line. 

We do not subscribe to the belief that the Almighty, in his in¬ 
finite power and mercy, has restricted the power of the colored man 
to any particular sphere in life. We do not believe that any man 
should be educated according to the color of his skin. We do not 
believe that he should be given an education distinctively different 



90 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


from the usual broad American education which seeks to develop and 
strengthen the whole man. A purely industrial training would make 
a man as one-sided in his development as a purely mental training; 
if the race is to receive an ideal training it should combine them 
both. Moreover, no one man is prepared to say just what the char¬ 
acter of another man’s education should be. It is arrogance and 
presumption for any feeble mortal to claim such power. No hu¬ 
man being is infallible and he is more liable to err concerning mat¬ 
ters and conditions involving people of different races in the dis¬ 
cussion of which some bias or prejudice is natural. A man of a 
different race from Frederick Douglass might have decreed that 
because of his color his powers should have been restricted to the 
cotton plantation. There is no intelligent man that knows of the 
matchless ability of Mr. Douglass that does not believe that it would 
have been a calamity to have restricted his wonderful talents to 
such circumscribed and lowly limits. 

There is seldom a broad and fair discussion of the question of the 
education of the colored man. The discussion is usually influenced 
by selfish motives and the views advocated are not so much to pro¬ 
mote the general welfare as to promote the personal interests of the 
party concerned. There is hardly a farmer in the South that does 
not think that the best training for the colored people is along the 
line of agriculture. In the days preceding the Civil War the colored 
man was trained for a carpenter, a blacksmith, or engineer, in order 
that he might better subserve the interests of his master; and thus 
it is today that each separate interest that thinks that it can, to ad¬ 
vantage, use the colored man’s services, believes that the colored man 
should be educated along that particular line. 

It is often said that the moneys that have been spent for the 
higher education of the colored people in this Southland have been 
wasted. We have serious doubts of the correctness of this statement. 
It all depends upon the view point. No money that makes it possi¬ 
ble for the minds and souls of immortal beings to be developed for 
power and usefulness can be said to have been squandered. The 
moneys that have been spent for the education of the colored people 
have been the most profitable investment that the Nation has ever 
made and has earned in the form of honest, intelligent and respected 
citizenship a dividend of which the Nation need not be ashamed. 
No doubt this Southland has spent millions upon top of millions for 
the education of the colored people during the last forty years, but 
at the same time the people of this Southland should not forget that 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


91 


these same millions were heaped up in the coffers of this Southland 
by the sweat and blood of the colored people for nearly two and a 
half centuries. This Southland has not bankrupted itself because 
of the liberal allowance it has made for the education of the colored 
people. It has done no more than its Christian duty for the race 
whose toil and sweat made this Southland rich beyond the dream of 
avarice. Surely the noble people of this Southland do not begrudge 
the moneys they have spent for the education of the poor and de¬ 
spised people that served them so long and faithfully, both in peace 
and in war. Surely the good white people of the South have not for¬ 
gotten the loyalty and fidelity of the colored people in the darkest 
days of the Civil War, when they remained at home on the planta¬ 
tions of the South and at the risk of their lives protected the lives 
and fortunes of the white women and children committed to their 
care and not in a single instance did they betray their righteous 
trust. Common gratitude alone on the part of the good white people 
of the South would bestow upon the colored people lasting appre¬ 
ciation and honor. 


THE SOLVENT SAVINGS BANK OF MEMPHIS. 

In the summer of 1906 the first banking institution under the ex¬ 
clusive ownership and management of the colored people of Mem¬ 
phis was incorporated and started out on its happy mission of fos¬ 
tering the business interests and looking after the commercial needs 
of the people of Memphis. The organization of this bank was a 
new departure in the business experience of the colored people and 
its probable success was fraught with a certain degree of apprehen¬ 
sion, both on the part of the enterprising promoters of the bank and 
the well-wishers of the race in general. 

In the matter of business daring and commercial conquest the 
colored people have had little experience. They often lack the spirit 
of confidence in their business ability and thus often sleep for 
years on enterprises that would not only afford them opportunities 
for the display of talents of the highest order along the line of busi¬ 
ness, but would bring to them great financial rewards. 

In this volume it is not necessary to relate how anxious the pro¬ 
moters of this first banking instiution were to gain public confidence; 
how solicitous they were to merit the patronage of their people, and 
how carefully from the very beginning they tried to safeguard the 



92 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


interests of the depositors. Suffice it to say that the bank in ques¬ 
tion has slowly and surely gained the confidence of the people. Its 
methods have been conservative and safe. No wild speculation or 
rainbow chasing for wealth has been indulged in by the manage¬ 
ment. Its methods are along the line of legitimate business and the 
strong arm of security and responsibility is placed around every 
dollar of the moneys intrusted to its care. 

The real, infallible test of the security of a bank is in the time of 
great financial depression and panic. The people of the whole 
country experienced such a crisis not long ago, when scores of great 
banking houses throughout the country closed their doors and 
brought disaster and financial ruin to thousands. Those were the 
days that tried men’s souls. At this time money practically passed 
out of circulation and cashier’s checks and other temporary expedi¬ 
ents were resorted to, to relieve the situation. The leading banks of 
Memphis limited greatly the amount of money to be withdrawn by 
the depositors, and the savings banks were deaf to the pleadings of 
their irate depositors. In this connection it is gratifying to state that 
the depositors of the Solvent Savings Bank experienced no difficulty 
in obtaining all moneys wanted for their immediate needs. It was 
one of the very few banks in Memphis that did not take advantage 
of the banking laws in order to play hide and seek with the money of 
the depositors. It came out of this great storm uninjured and 
stronger than ever before. It stood, like the Rock of Gibraltar, un¬ 
harmed by the great waves of the financial panic which beat so re¬ 
lentlessly against its very foundation. 

The officials and stock holders of the Solvent Savings Bank are 
the wealthiest colored citizens of Memphis. Most of them have had 
varied and extensive experience in business and have gained success 
to a marked degree. Considering the novel character of their un¬ 
dertaking bnd their inexperience in such matters, the officials have 
shown surprising ability as financiers. In every fiduciary capacity 
they may be depended upon to look carefully after the interests of 
their patrons and to have ever in mind that they hold in their con¬ 
duct, not only the safety of the funds intrusted to their care, but 
also the honor of the colored people of Memphis. 


END OF PART I. 



The Bright Side 
/. of Memphis 

Part II 


Business, Industrial and Pro 
fessional Information Con 
cerning the Colored People 
of Memphis ® ® ® $ 


Including An Addenda 


























MOUNT OLIVE C. M. E. CHURCH 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


95 


Arrangers and Composers 


Adams, Wm. T.2 Park Place 

Mr. Adams is a native of Mississippi 
and a recent acquisition to the musical 
circles of Memphis. He is a splendid 
clarinetist and a welcome addition to 
the membership of the local bands and 
orchestras. 

He is a young man, but has had con¬ 
siderable experience in music. He can 
do good work in arranging music. For 
two years he arranged the music for 
one of the best musical organizations 
on the road, and thus gained both ex¬ 
perience and ability in this great de¬ 
partment of music. He is a modest and 
unassuming young man showing good 
parentage, and will no doubt make a 
name for himself in the profession of 
music. 


f • 

l W. C. HANDY, f 

! Composer, Arranger and Teacher ! 

j —of — ; 

f Vocal Music, Piano, Band and Or- f 
| chestra. Experienced Director. J 

f Phones—2703 Cumb.; Main 2830. f 

• • 

• 246 Ayers St. • 

• • 

| Memphis, Tenn. \ 

Prof. Handy is well versed in every 
department of music. For many years 
he has enjoyed the distinction of be¬ 
ing one of the leading band masters of 
America, having been for seven years 
in charge of Mahara’s Famous Minstrel 
Band. Also, he had the honor of train¬ 
ing bands in Evansville, Henderson, 
Clarksdale, and Memphis. For three 
years he was at the head of the Depart¬ 
ment of Music at Prof. CounciPs school, 
Normal, Ala. As a solo cornetist he 
has few equals and no superiors. He 
has gained a substantial reputation as 



Handy, W. C., Prof.246 Ayres 


an arranger and composer of music, and 
some of his productions rank with the 
best in the country. He does the ar¬ 
ranging of music for one of the most 
prominent music houses of Memphis, and 
his work has proven highly satisfactory. 
He is well acquainted with the laws of 
harmony and his productions are al¬ 
ways founded upon correct musical prin¬ 
ciples. All Memphians take great pride 
in the fact that in Prof. Handy the city 
of Memphis has, as one of its citizens, 
one of the greatest musicians in the 
country, irrespective of race. He is one 
of America’s leading musical virtuosos, 
and as a cornetist he js one of the great 
masters. He is a man of class, both so¬ 
cially and musically, and bears the im¬ 
press of a high-toned gentleman. 











96 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS, 


Smith, J. J.2 Park Place. 

. 

I J. J. SMITH, I 

• • 

! Teacher of Bands and Orchestras, ? 

Arranger and Composer. | 

1 2 Park Place, Memphis, Tenn. 1 

Prof. Smith is a native of the great 
state of Kansas, and began his musical 
career when a mere boy of tender 
age. His whole life has been connected 
with the art of music, and he is one of 
its most finished and artistic exponents. 
His training has been as thorough as 
one’s training could be. He was under 
some of the best instructors in the coun¬ 
try, among whom may be numbered 
Prof. Lowry, the great solo cornetist and 
virtuoso. He studied music in Boston 
and absorbed the musical ideas in this 
great New England metropolis. He is 
an artist on the cornet and an experi¬ 
enced and successful arranger and com¬ 
poser of music. In the work of arrang¬ 
ing and composing music he has had 
fifteen years’ experience and ranks with 
the best in the country. He is a great 
acquisition to the ranks of local mu¬ 
sicians and brings to them the ability 
and success of a master in his profes¬ 
sion. In this fine musician the great 
and world-wide Smith family scored one 
of its greatest triumphs. 


Prof. George J. Williams is of French 
extraction and a member of a family 
of famous musicians. The foundation 
of his musical knowledge was laid by 
his brother, an eminent musician of 
New Orleans, and the subject himself 
has added so thoroughly to his original 
training that he has become one of the 
best known musicians in the country. 
As a baritone and trombone soloist he 
is in a class by himself and his execu¬ 
tion is a feature on every occasion when 



Williams, George J.349 Beale. 


? GEORGE J. WILLIAMS, | 

• • 

• Composer, Arranger, Teacher and * 

• • 

? Director. ? 

• i 

l Phone 2549. 349 Beale Ave. . | 

i Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

«0•• «•••••©••••••• •••'*v.©*•« .©>•*».©*•!>«•••••••••••• 

an opportunity is given to display his 
ability. He is an all-around musician 
of great ability. He is an experienced 
arranger and composer of music and 
ranks with the best in that department. 
He is a wise man with reference to the 
laws of harmony, and makes good when 
others fail. A great deal of local ar¬ 
ranging is done by him, and his stand¬ 
ing with local music houses in this par¬ 
ticular is second to none. He is a great 
musician and no one can gainsay the 
fact. Music is his specialty. He plays 
music; he talks music, and probably 
dreams music. He can write music as 
rapidly as a bank clerk can fill out 
checks and is a musical prodigy. 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


97 


Williams, T. J.392 Ayers. 

One of the most popular and versatile 
musicians in Memphis is Mr. T. J. Wil¬ 
liams. He is a musical omnibus in which 
all the musical instruments are carried. 
Prof. Williams has had considerable ex¬ 


perience in arranging music, and is well 
versed in that art. He is a gentleman 
of the highest social standing and en¬ 
joys the respect of the entire commun¬ 
ity. As a musician of varied ability he 
is nearly in a class by himself. 


Artists 


f 

f 

! 

• 

: 

? 

f 

: 


MRS. W. S. MURCHISON | 

- .^ =AltTiST -- r-— j 

Special attention given to enlarging portraits in crayon, pastels, ! 

water color and India ink. | 

685 Phelan Avenue WORK GUARANTEED Memphis, Tenn. ! 


Bakers 


Bailey, Wm.Linden Hotel 

Blote, Chas.441 Beale 

Burchett, George.Delicatessen 

Downey, Henry.. ..Lee Line Steamers 

Mr. Downey is one of our best known 
and most experienced bakers, and is 
able to give complete satisfaction in 
every capacity. 


Edwards, Wm.National Biscuit Co. 

Hewitt, James.Gayoso Hotel 

Mr. Hewitt is a good baker and knows 
his business. 


Hooper, Frank.389 S. Wellington 

Horsley, George.Gayoso Hotel 


Mr. Horsley is an expert baker and 
is one'of the most accomplished artists 
in his specialty in the whole country. 
It is doubtful if there is a man in the 
whole country more skillful in baking 
than he. The position he holds is sec¬ 
ond to none in the South, and reflects 
great credit upon his ability. Mr. Hors¬ 
ley attends strictly to business and 
merits not only the success he has 
achieved, but also the confidence and 
esteem of his employers and the travel¬ 
ing public. 


Huggins, Mark.National Biscuit Co. 

Jones, Wm.232 S. Second 

Parker, Mai.Gayoso Hotel 

Taylor, Daniel.317 Decatur 





























98 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


• ¥ 

| Solvent Savings Bank j 

i ■■ ■ -. - .. j 

| & Trust Company j 



Of Memphis, Tenn. 


Capital Stosfe SIS®®#© 

Every courtesy consistent with safe banking is extended 
to our customers 


Your patronage solicited 


OFFICERS 


R. 

R. Church, 

W. E. Mollison, 


President. 

Third Vice-; 

T. 

H. Hayes, 

H. H. Pace, 


Vice-President. 

Cashier. 

J. 

W. Sanford, 

J. T. Settle, 


Second Vice-President. 

Attorney. 


R. R. Church, 

T. H. Hayes, 

J. W, Sanford, 

J. T. Settle, 

A. L. Thompson, 

N. W. Bridgeforth, 

S. S. Brown, 

W. E. Mollison, 


D I RECTORS 

J. C. Martin, 

D. W. Washington, 

J. T. Clowers, 

T. H. Busby, 

D. P. Saunders, 

M. L. Clay, 

R. R. Church, Jr., 

W. A. Atterway, 

E. W. Irving, 

392 Beale Avenue 


A. E. Clouston, 

L. C. Moore, 

J. C. Chappie, 

W. A. Locke, 

W. H. Bloomfield, 
H. H. Pace, 

A. S. J. Burchett, 
J. B. Willis. 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


99 


Banks and Bankers 


R. R. CHURCH. 



The honored president of the Solvent 
Savings Bank and Trust Company of 
Memphis, Tenn., is Mr. It. It. Church, 
Sr. He is without doubt the wealthiest 
colored man in the state of Tennessee, 
and probably in the United States. He 
is the owner of over a hundred substan¬ 
tial buildings in the city of Memphis 
alone, not taking into consideration his 
many other valuable real estate posses¬ 
sions in other large cities. His many 
elegant and substantial buildings in 
Memphis are not only a monument to 
his untiring industry, ceaseless perse¬ 
verance, and proverbial thrift, but they 
are an enduring monument to his genius 
as an architect and civil engineer. All 
of his buildings have been planned by 
him and built under his personal super¬ 
vision, and their substantial construc¬ 
tion and finished appearance show the 
workings of a master mind. If Mr. 


Church’s life work had been cast in the 
line of architecture and civil engineering 
he would have contested supremacy with 
the foremost architects and civil en¬ 
gineers of the age. He is endowed with 
a natural gift for building, and his 
genius in this capacity has been mar¬ 
velously shown in the transformation 
that has been wrought in the work of 
beautifying his park on Beale avenue. 
Many years ago, when he purchased that 
convenient site of several acres in the 
heart of the city of Memphis, it was 
not even dreamed by the most optimis¬ 
tic citizen what a wonderful change was 
possible to be wrought in a section pos¬ 
sessing so many natural disadvantages. 
And what he has really accomplished in 
this direction would have baffled the in¬ 
genuity of any other man. 

Mr. Church is a man of remarkable 
foresight. He has the happy faculty 




100 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


of seeing for years in advance of their 
coming possibilities and conditions that 
an ordinary mind could not see the day 
before their arrival. He was one of the 
very few colored citizens of the early 
days of Memphis succeeding the Civil 
War that had the breadth of vision to 
foresee the wonderful possibilities of the 
city of Memphis as a home for colored 
people, and to take advantage of those 
prosperous times in order to lay the 
foundation for a competency in life. 
Others of our race had equal opportu¬ 
nities with Mr. Church, but they were 
not endowed with the foresight to pre¬ 
pare for the future and many of them 
are now in a state of poverty instead 
of affluence. 

Contrary to popular idea, Mr. Church 
was not born with a silver spoon in his 
mouth. He was of humble origin and 
had none of the advantages which birth 
and opportunity have the power to con¬ 
fer. He is strictly the moulder of his 
own fortune. His energy, foresight and 
thrift alone have gained for him the 
proud distinction of being the wealth¬ 
iest colored man in America. 

Mr. Church is a man of integrity and 
honor and no citizen of Memphis can im¬ 
peach his veracity. His word passes in 
the marts of commerce as readily as a 
gold bond of the United States govern¬ 
ment, and his credit is second to that 
of no other man in Memphis. His real 
estate possessions are probably the most 
widely scattered of any other real es¬ 
tate owner of Memphis, and his wealth 
is popularly estimated to be consider¬ 
ably in excess of a half million of dol¬ 
lars. 

Great as Mr. Church is considered be¬ 
cause of his enormous wealth, he is, in 
the writer’s humble judgment, greater 
still because of the high character of 
his children and the beauty of his home 
life; for it is seldom the lot of man 
to be the father of four such children 
of promise and eminence, and no man 


could wish a greater monument to his 
memory than the exemplary character 
and worthy lives of his devoted chil¬ 
dren. 

The eldest of the children is Mrs. 
Mary Church Terrell, of Washington, 
D. C., unquestionably the best known, 
the brainiest, and most influential col¬ 
ored woman in America. She enjoyed 
every advantage that the great wealth 
and love of her father could bestow. She 
is a graduate of Oberlin University, and 
took post graduate courses in some of 
the leading universities of Europe. She 
is a ripe scholar and a great linguist, and 
an orator of national prominence. She~ 
is happily married and is the estimable 
wife of Judge Robert H. Terrell, a grad¬ 
uate of Brown University, and a justice 
of the District of Columbia. 

The next eldest of the children is 
Mr. Ayers Church, of New York City, a 
prominent member of the New York bar 
and a valuable attache of the Municipal 
courts. The next of the children in 
point of age is Mr. R. R. Church, Jr., of 
this city. The youngest of the children 
is Miss Annette Church, a student in 
one of the leading American colleges and 
a young woman of fine intellect and 
brilliant promise. It is our humble judg¬ 
ment that it is just as great an honor 
to be the father of such a distinguished 
family as it is to have the honor of 
being the richest colored man in Amer¬ 
ica. 


R. R. CHURCH, JR. 

Wealth has its disadvantages as well 
as its advantages, and one of its great 
disadvantages is its baleful effects upon 
the children of rich parents. It is an 
axiom in social life that the children of 
wealthy parents seldom amount to any¬ 
thing that is worthy; that they prefer 
a life of ease and luxury instead of a 
life of strenuous and useful activity. 
The life of Mr. R. R. Church, Jr., is a 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


101 


happy exception to this rule, for he is 
a veritable chip off the old block in 
every worthy respect. He bears a good 
name and one of which any young man 
may well be proud. He is deservingly 
popular with all classes and a general 
favorite with young and old. He knows 
the full value of the American dollar 
and plants away for safe keeping every 
dollar that comes his way. He has had 
every educational advantage, and is a 
young man of fine business training. He 
has an old head on young shoulders and 
has inherited much of his father’s busi¬ 
ness sagacity. In the natural course of 
time he will succeed his worthy sire as 
the wealthiest colored man in America. 


S. S. BROWN. 

Prominently identified with the edu¬ 
cational and business interests of Mem¬ 
phis is Mr. S. S. Brown, one of the lead¬ 
ing teachers of Memphis and a stock¬ 
holder in the Solvent Savings Bank and 
Trust Company. No other young mai 
has ever before located in Memphis and 
in such a short time made such phenom¬ 
enal success along all lines. For years 
he was one of the leading teachers of 
the state of Mississippi. He is a grad¬ 
uate of Alcorn University, and a gentle¬ 
man of unusual training and experience. 
He has been connected with the public 
schools of Memphis for several years and 
has qualified himself for the highest 
honors connected with the schools. He 
is a close student and has taken advant¬ 
age of every opportunity to cultivate 
and strengthen his mind. He is a live, 
energetic and enterprising man and has 
merited success in more than one field 
of activity. Since coming to Memphis 
he has gained considerable prominence 
in financial affairs and is rated highly 
in the same. He has accumulated some 
valuable property and his wealth is pop¬ 
ularly estimated to be in excess of 
$6,000. He has been elected cashier of 


the proposed Pythian Bank and Trust 
Company, and when this bank becomes 
a reality he will assume that honor and 
be well prepared to fill it with credit. 


W. E. MOLLISON. 

Mr. Mollison is so well known that 
no extended sketch of him is necessary 
in this publication. He is one of the 
leading lawyers of the state of Mis¬ 
sissippi, and is identified with the va¬ 
rious interests of that state as proba¬ 
bly no other colored man. He is one 
of its leading bankers, one of its best 
known fraternity men and one of its 
ablest and most highly respected cit¬ 
izens. The name of Mollison is a lode- 
stone throughout the state, and is cal¬ 
culated to make everybody sit up and 
take notice. 


T. H. BUSBY. 

Mr. Busby is a wealthy planter of the 
state of Mississippi, and is widely and 
favorably known for his enterprise, 
business success, and hospitality. He is 
a pleasant and congenial man and enjoys 
great popularity among his friends. 


A. E. CLOUSTON. 

Mr. Clouston is a member of the fa¬ 
mous Clouston family, which was al¬ 
ways prominent in the affairs of Mem¬ 
phis because of their enterprise and 
great wealth. His father was a free¬ 
man in ante-bellum days. He was a 
shrewd and sagacious business man, en¬ 
dowed with great foresight, and in those 
early days laid the foundation of a 
great fortune. Mr. Clouston has in¬ 
herited the bulk of his fortune and has 
shown himself to be a man of splendid 
business capacity. He has inherited his 
father’s shrewdness and has shown him¬ 
self to be equal to the demands of such 
a great fortune. 






102 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


L. C. MOORE. 

It is the fortune of some men to be 
known and appreciated by everybody. 
It is, also, the luck of some men to be 
engaged in many different enterprises 
and to be successful in each. Such is 
the happy experience of Mr. Moore, the 
subject of this sketch. The name Moore 
ought to be “More” in order to express 
more properly his disposition for engag¬ 
ing in a multitude of various affairs. He 
is a man of great business capacity and 
unusual intelligence and has succeeded 
in everything that he has ever attempt¬ 
ed. There is in Memphis no line of 
activity or enterprise in which he is not 
engaged. He is most prominently con¬ 
nected with Sunday school and church 
work, and for years has been president 
of the State Sunday School Conven¬ 
tion. He is one of our leading frater¬ 
nity men, and in this respect his good 
name and ability have been the open 
sesame to success and honor. He is 
proprietor of the well-known Bridge Res¬ 
taurant on Poplar avenue, and this fact, 
no doubt, accounts for his generous 
physical proportions. We are sure that 
his devoted and estimable wife sees to 
it that he is a well-fed man. He is a 
fine man and deserves, not only what 
success he has already achieved, but 
whatever success may await him in the 
future. 


H. H. PACE. 

The cashier of this well-known bank¬ 
ing institution is Mr. H. H. Pace, for¬ 
merly of Atlanta, Ga. He is a young 
man thoroughly equipped for such a 
responsible position, and the directors 
of this bank are to be congratulated for 
the wisdom they displayed in making 
such a selection. The position of cash¬ 
ier of a bank is one of great trust and 
responsibility, and the one filling such a 
position should have every qualification, 
moral and intellectual, for such an ex¬ 


alted position. These qualities Mr. Pace 
has in the superlative degree. He is 
one of the best educated men in the 
country, and before succeeding to the 
cashiership of the Solvent Savings Bank 
and Trust Company he was a member 
of the faculty of Lincoln Institute, Jef¬ 
ferson City, Missouri, the leading in¬ 
stitution for the education of colored 
youth. Though he was receiving a 
princely salary for his services, he re¬ 
signed his position with this institu¬ 
tion to accept his present position with 
the bank. Instead of following the 
life of a school teacher he thought that 
the greatest opportunity for business 
achievement and financial success is in 
commercial life. So he did not hesitate 
to accept the position when it was ten¬ 
dered him. He is an alumnus of At¬ 
lanta University and one of its favorite 
sons. He is a master printer and a gen¬ 
eral all-around man. As a vocalist he 
is in a class by himself, and his pres¬ 
ence in this capacity on any occasion is 
a guarantee that at least one number 
on the program will be creditably ren¬ 
dered. He is prominently connected in 
fraternity circles, and is the grand sec¬ 
retary of the Elks. He is a polished, 
cultured, affable gentleman, free from 
affectation and has the faculty of mak¬ 
ing friends of all. 


M. L. CLAY. 

The state of Mississippi claims for its 
own the honor of ushering into existence 
the remarkable man whose name is at 
the head of this sketch. It is not an 
exaggeration to use the term remark¬ 
able in connection with the life of Mr. 
Clay; for it has been filled with so 
many experiences of an interesting and 
thrilling character that no other term 
can do justice to him. A fraction over 
twenty five years ago he came to Mem¬ 
phis from his native state—a green, 
good-natured, jolly, moon-faced, country 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


103 



M. L. CLAY 


boy, bubbling over with youthful life 
and vigor. He was still a school boy 
and had an ambition to make a mark in 
life; and this ambition had been stim¬ 
ulated and encouraged by a devoted 
mother who had toiled, sacrificed and 
striven to provide for him every educa¬ 
tional advantage that her circumstances 
could afford. He attended Le Moyne 
Institute for a short while and subse¬ 
quently Fisk University. Anxious to 
do something for the uplift of his race, 
he resolved to try the life of a school 
teacher, and sought work in his native 
state; but the stern realities of this 
new life did not harmonize with his lofty 
conception of duty, and consequently, 
after a short experience under adverse 
conditions, he decided that he had not 
found his proper sphere of usefulness 
and laid down the rod of the pedagogue. 

From his earliest youth he had a great 
ambition to engage in business and be¬ 
come one of the kings of commerce. His 
youthful dreams were disturbed by the 


clink and jingle of the almighty dollar, 
and in his slumbers he tossed about in 
feverish pursuit of the millions that 
seemed to be in his reach. True to his 
youthful ambition he entered commer¬ 
cial life and engaged in the grocery busi¬ 
ness. Endowed by nature with energy, 
enterprise and determination to succeed, 
his business in a reasonable length of 
time began to assume great proportions, 
and he became the most successful mer¬ 
chant of color that the city of Mem¬ 
phis ever had, and even until this day 
no colored establishment has ever en¬ 
tirely equaled in volume of business and 
class of patrons that of Mr. Clay. He 
has been identified with many different 
business enterprises in Memphis, and 
has shown marvelous executive ability 
in each. It has not been his fortune 
to make great financial success in each 
of the many things that he has attempt¬ 
ed, but he has had the satisfaction to 
know that his ability was equal to every 
test and that failure was not due to 
his own shortcomings. He has a mind 
capable of sustained effort for an in¬ 
definite length of time, and it is so com¬ 
prehensive in its grasp that seemingly 
it can carry on a hundred details with¬ 
out slipping a mental cog. His financial 
operations have always been on a great 
scale for such a small place as Mem¬ 
phis, and his friends have long wished 
for a broader field in which to exploit 
his ceaseless energy. If he were in Wall 
street he would clash arms with Mor¬ 
gan, Harriman and other plutocrats of 
that street. He believes in turning 
money over, and he is the most adven¬ 
turous financial spirit in Memphis. A 
hundred men of his push and enterprise 
in Memphis would work wonders in its 
material life. In strenuousness he is an 
ideal American citizen, and no enterprise 
demanding money and brains seems too 
great for his vaulting ambition. In 
every sense he has been a successful 
man. He has had his business adversi- 




104 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ties, but in the end he has come out 
more than conqueror. He lias been lib¬ 
eral to a fault, but the bread that he 
cast on the water has always been re¬ 
turned to him. In his business dealings 
he is scrupulously honest, and in his 
friendships as true as steel. Beneath 
his rugged exterior is a heart as ten¬ 
der as a woman’s and a sympathy as 
broad as creation. He is popularly 


thought to be one among the wealth¬ 
iest colored citizens of Memphis. He 
has a commodious and elegant home on 
St. Paul avenue in one of the most 
fashionable sections of the city, and this 
home is presided over by a handsome 
and devoted wife. Mr. Clay is still 
growing in business life, and in course 
of time will realize the dreams of his 
youth. 


Bank Porters 


Alexander, Isaac. .South Memphis Sav¬ 
ings Bank. 

Archer, L. N. B.. .Security Savings Bank 
and Trust Co. 

Baker, Henry.State National Bank 



Barnett, Wm. H...State National Bank 

Mr. Barnett is one of the best known 
citizens of Memphis and has been con¬ 
nected with the commercial life of this 


city for two generations. He is as much 
a part of Memphis as the very pave¬ 
ment on which the citizens walk, and 
enjoys a popularity that is unbounded. 
He is one of the oldest porters connect¬ 
ed with the banks of Memphis, and the 
greatest of confidence has always been 
reposed in him by his employers. He 
has been faithful to every trust and 
has held the banner of race integrity 
high. He has had an eye single to the 
main chance and has accumulated con¬ 
siderable property in Memphis. He is 
a member of the undertaking firm of 
Carson, Barnett & Co., and his name 
does much to give financial stability and 
public confidence to this enterprising 
company. He belongs to a distinguished 
family, one of his relations being the 
noted lawyer Barnett, of Chicago, Mr. 
Barnett is little in size, but he has a 
big mind and has given a good account 
of himself in the material affairs of 
Memphis. 


Bentley, Wm. .Manhattan Savings Bank 

Mr. Bentley is one of our most pop¬ 
ular citizens and enjoys universal re¬ 
spect and esteem. He is one of the old¬ 
est bank porters. He is a patron of 
learning and has given all of his children 
a good education. His eldest daughter, 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


105 


Mrs. Lena Davis, is one of the best 
pianists in the city and his son, William 
Bentley, Jr., is a graduate of the law 
department of Howard University, 
Washington, D. C. 


Brinkley, John.Mercantile Bank 

Mr. Brinkley is a hustling, energetic, 
popular young man and is gradually forg¬ 
ing to the front in every honorable way. 
He* is true to every trust and is a splen¬ 
did example of an honorable high-toned 
gentleman. 


Butler, A. R...Central Bank and Trust 
Company. 

Crutchfield, Wm.Bank of Commerce 

Daniels, Prince A. .First National Bank 

Mr. Daniels is one of the best known 
citizens of Memphis, and a gentleman 


noted for his many virtues. He is one 
of the old land marks in the banking 
business and no other porter has had 
greater confidence reposed in him. He 
is a Christian gentleman of the high¬ 
est character and nothing better can 
be said of any one. 


Dorsey, Percy.The City Bank 

Doss, Albert.Caldwell & Smith 

Guliette, R. H. B.. .Continental Savings 
Bank. 

Henry, W. C... . People's Savings Bank 
Jones, Walter. .Germania Savings Bank 


Lewis, David. .Union and Planters Bank 
and Trust Co. 

McComb, Walter. .Solvent Savings Bank 
Stegal, J. W. .North Memphis Savings 
Bank. 

Taylor, Samuel T. .North Memphis Sav¬ 
ings Bank. 


Barbers 


Alexander, 0. V.175 Beale 

Mr. Alexander not only heads the list 
of tonsorial artists named in this book, 
but he heads the list in professional 
skill. He is one of the smoothest artists 
in the business and his patrons are al¬ 
ways glad to return to experience again 
the joys of a delightful shave or the 
satisfaction of an up-to-date hair cut. 
The muscles of Mr. Alexander’s hands 
have an automatic action and without 
any particular effort on the part of his 
brain they do the business with prompt¬ 
ness and dispatch. All Alexanders are 
great men along some line. This Alex¬ 
ander is a great barber and the pride 
of the E. S. Goens’ tonsorial parlor. 

Anderson, Matthew.304 Poplar 

Anderson, William .... 66 IV 2 N. Second 


Banks, L. W.325y 2 N. Main 

Barnett, Wm.1328 Jackson 

Beard, L. C.172 S. Third 


I L. C. BEARD. I 

• ? 

Bluff City Barber Shop. 

: £ 

1 All Work Guaranteed. 

£ 

t 172 S. Third St., Memphis, Tenn. f 


I 


Beck, John .346 Beale 

Bennett, J. A. (No. 1).281 High 

Bennett, J. A. (No. 2).610 Jackson 

Billups, A.129V 2 Beale 

Blair, George .245 Webster 

Bledsoe, T. H.325 N. Main 

Bomar, Chas.333 N. Main 

Bracken, Peter.349 Beale 




























106 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Mr. Bracken is a first-class tonsorial 
artist and lias a large personal follow¬ 
ing. He is always steady, reliable and 
prompt in the performance of his duties 
and has a clientage that can get satis¬ 
faction from no other barber but him. 
He is a fine fellow and an Odd Fellow, 
too, and reflects credit upon the fra¬ 
ternity. 

Bradley, F. L.319 Beale 

Mr. Bradley is a first-class barber and 
a great reader. He reads everything 
from the narration of a prize fight up 
to Christian Science and Predestination. 
He is a walking encyclopedia of useful 
information and can give most of the 
school teachers a few points on litera¬ 
ture and science. 

Bradshaw, Grant .828 N. Second 

Brooks, J. K.310 N. Main 



Brownlee, M. J.348 Beale 

Mr. Brownlee is a hustling, energetic 
young man with an eye wide open for 
the main chance and has gained great 
success in his business. His tonsorial 


parlor is second to none in the city and 
reflects great credit on his business 
ability. 


i M. J. BROWNLEE * 

! Barber Shop. ? 

? Electric Massage A Specialty. f 

f Bath Rooms. • 

! 348 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. | 

Brown, Isaac .310 N. Main 



Brown, j. H.319 Beale 

.. 

? BROWN’S BARBER SHOP, 
f 319 Beale Ave. • 

| Artists: F. L. Bradley, S. J. | 

? Thomas, C. T. Warfield. 

: • 

t J. H. Brown, Proprietor, • 

i Memphis, Tenn. | 

? • 

Mr. J. H. Brown is not only a first- 
class tonsorial artist but lie is a very 
prominent fraternity man. He is one 



















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


107 


of the chief officers of the Knights of 
Pythias of the State of Tennessee and 
is held in the highest esteem by the 
members of that organization. He is a 
worthy young man with a promising fu¬ 
ture and no doubt will be heard from 
creditably in more ways than one. He 
is Deputy State Grand Chancellor of the 
Knights of Pythias, Master of Finance, 
Treasurer of Pythian Temple and Treas¬ 
urer of the General Trustee Board. He 
was born in South Carolina and not in 
old Kentucky. 

Brown, Pinkney .673 N. Second 

Brown, R. T.341 Beale 

Capt. B. T. Brown is a unique char¬ 
acter in the history of Memphis. For 
years he was a leader in military circles 
in Memphis and in the Spanish-Ameri- 
can war was honored with a first lieu¬ 
tenancy. He is one of the oldest and 
best known citizens of Memphis and has 
done much to promote the city’s wel¬ 
fare. He has had much political ex¬ 
perience and in every way he is amply 
able to take care of himself. 

Byram, George .Gaston Hotel 

I GEORGE BYRAM l 

f f 

f Tonsorial Parlor. f 

£ First Class Artists. £ 

: : 

• t 

• Gaston Hotel. Memphis. • 

• • 

No other young man in his profes¬ 
sion in Memphis has achieved greater 
success than Mr. Geo. Byram. He has 
always been industrious, energetic and 
thrifty and has never slept on his op¬ 
portunities to provide for the proverbial 
rainy day. Consequently, today Mr. 
Byram is considered one of our wealth¬ 
iest young men. He has some splendid 
property in the Silk Stocking district 
of Memphis, and is reaching out after 


more. Mr. Byram is a progressive man 
and has contributed his share to raise 
the colored people in the estimation of 
others. His word is as good as a United 
States treasury note and he is a fine 
fellow on general principles. 

Campbell, Henry.325 N. Main 

Casey, A. L.261 Rayburn 


I A. L. CASEY. I 

? f 

? Barber Shop. 


Improved Methods. Call. 


f 261 Rayburn. Memphis, Tenn. ? 


Mr. Casey is a versatile man and can¬ 
not easily be lost in the making of a 
living. Not only is he a finished bar¬ 
ber, but he is an experienced chiropodist. 
He is also a prominent church man and 
does his share toward the spiritual wel¬ 
fare of the community. 


Chester, C. P.325y 2 N. Main 

Clay, M. L.349 Beale 


£ M. L. CLAY, | 

| Tonsorial Parlor. | 

f Electric Massage a Specialty. ? 

• Bath Rooms in Connection. ? 

I Chas. H. Givens, Mgr. 

• ? 

Collins, Hugh .310 N. Main 

De Hart, Jesse .346 Beale 

T - ? 


JESSE DE HART, 

| First-Class Barber Shop. | 

f Razors Put in Order-* f 

? *•-Best of Service. ? 

I 346 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 


The courtly-looking gentleman with 
the French name is not only one of the 
best barbers but one of the most popu¬ 
lar citizens of Memphis. He is a good 
















108 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


citizen and prominently identified with 
the Masonic fraternity. 

Dillard, J. S.349 Mississippi 

Draper, J.1020 Mississippi 

Echols, E. J.766 Florida 

Edwards, G. W.328 Beale 

Fitzgerald, Horace.253 Poplar 

« • 

f Razors Put in Order, • 

! HORACE FITZGERALD I 

| First-Class Barber Shop. | 

Children’s Hair Cutting. ? 

| 253 Poplar St. Memphis, Tenn. | 

• • 

Floyd, Wm.484y 2 S. Main 

Forwell, John .310 N. Main 

Garner, Ralph.42 W. Jackson Md. 

Garner, S.363y 2 N. Main 

Garner, Wm.42 W. Jackson Md. 

Gary, Robert L.690 S. Main 

-•‘•••••••••••—•’••••••It 

| ROBERT L. GARY, I 

• i 

f First-Class Barber Shop. 

| Everything Up-to-Date. ! 

• • 
690 S. Main St., Memphis. f 

Mr. Gary is a thorough business man 
and an artist in his line. He is a be¬ 
liever in education and demonstrated 
this fact by sending his daughter, Miss 
Elvinia Gary, to the Colored High School 
of Memphis until she graduated. Mr. 
Gary is a man that sleeps with only one 
eye closed. 

Gillespie, C. G.261 Rayburn 

Gilliam, Marcus W.43 Wellington 

Gillum, Nicholas.484 High 

i i 

M. L. Clay Barber Shop, f 

l CHAS. GIVENS, MGR. 

T ? 

i 349 Beale St., Memphis, Tenn. ! 
i i 

• • 


Givens, Chas.349 Beale 



Mr. Givens is the experienced and 
popular manager of the M. L. Clay Ton- 
sorial Parlor, and is a skilled knight of 
the razor. He has been the manager of 
this shop for several years and has con¬ 
tributed much to the high-class stand¬ 
ing and popularity of this well-known 
establishment. Mr. Givens is an au¬ 
thority not only on matters pertaining 
to the barbers’ art but on other im¬ 
portant matters of great public pith 
and moment, which we may discuss in 
the second edition of this book. For 
the benefit of the readers of this book 
the author wishes to inform the people 
of Memphis that Mr. Givens is not a 
Frenchman, as the aristocratic curl of 
his mustache would indicate, but he is 
a plain American citizen that performs 
every duty with intelligence and fidelity 
to the trust reposed in him. 


Goens, E. S.175 Beale 

Mr. E. S. Goens is one of our best 
known and most substantial citizens. 
As a friend he is loyal and true and 
as a companion he is as congenial and 
jovial as one can be . He has succeeded 
in his profession in more ways than 
one. He has succeeded in becoming one 
of its most finished artists and he has 
also succeeded in accumulating some 


























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


109 


substantial property interests in Mem¬ 
phis. Mr. Goens is, as he looks to be, 
one of nature’s noblemen. Re is generous, 
obliging and kind, and no one in abso¬ 
lute distress is turned away without 
some consideration. “Handsome is he 
that handsome does,” is the old saying; 
but handsome is he whom God has made 
so, and you can plainly see the applica¬ 
tion. 



E. S. GOENS 


| E. S. GOENS, | 


I 

: 

• 

I 

i 

I 

: 

• 

s 

? 

? • 


Tonsorial Parlor. 

First Class Artists. 

175 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 

Artists—Charles Thomas, 0. V. 
Alexander, Robert Wier. 

E. S. Goens, Propr. 


Gordon, W. B.576 Washington 

Graham, Jessie .768y 2 S. Main 

Granberry, S. L.906 Mosby 

Green, Wesley .700 Kansas 

Hall, John .349 Beale 


Mr. John Hall is from Alabama and. 
not from Missouri; but you have to 
show him just the same if you don’t 
think that he knows his business. Mr. 
Hall is all right every day in the year. 


Harris, G. J.114 Beale 

• A 


• BARBER SHOP IN BASEMENT i 

• * 

• 114 Beale Ave. i 

• J 

£ First-class Service to AIL 
| Call and Give Us a Trial. £ 

i G. J. Harris, Mgr. | 

• i 

Heater, Edwin C.94 S. Fourth 

Henry, Perry .401 N. Main 

Hicks, Arthur .341 Beale 

Higgins, Tobe .416 Beale 


*'- 


• TOBE HIGGINS i 

? £ 

| Barber Shop. f 

| Improved Methods. Call. | 

• • 

• 416 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 

Mr. Higgins is as good a barber as 
he was once a ball player and that is to 
say that he is one of the best in the 
land. Mr. Higgins was the most fa¬ 
mous ball player ever produced among 
the colored people of Memphis and led 
the International League in fielding 
when a member of the famous Syracuse 
Stars. 

Holder, W. D.129y 2 Beale 

Hoilmes, Peter .672 S. Orleans 

-* ? 


f 


Razors Put in Order-* 

PETER HOLMES, 

First Class Barber Shop. 

*-Children’s Hair Cutting. 

672 S. Orleans St., Memphis. 


Hoskins, Henry C.673 N. Second 

Hoyle, L. H.341 Beale 





























110 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


• i 


4 ~ 


L. H. HOYLE, 

First Class Barber Shop. f 

• 

Everything Up-to-date-o ? 

o-Bath in Connection. 

341 Beale Ave., Memphis. 






Kelley, Henry .661% N. Second 

Kelley, Joseph .1454 Lamar 

Kidd, John .206 Jackson 

Kimbrough, W. T.328 Beale 

Lee, James .727 Alma 

Lee, Robert .64 S. Fourth 

Lewis, Morgan .388 S. Second 

Marcus, Louis J.391 N. Manassas 

Martin, Arthur .87 Exchange 

Martin, Wm E.242 Jackson 

Matlock, Wm.880 Florida 

McAroy, Hayward .947 Porter 

McClendon, C.951 N. Second 

McCray, Wm.363 Court 

McDaniel, Daniel.617 Woodward 


McDonald, John 
McDowell, J. .. 


.326 Ashland 

.328 Dupree 


• 

T 

? 

4 


Hurt, Felix .768% S. Main 

Jacobs, W. J.146 N. Main 

James, Jordan .164 N. Fourth 

Johnson, Henry .210 Beale 

Johnson, J. K.348 Beale 

Karr, J. B.333 N. Main 

? Go to- j 

l J. B. KARR’S j 

! BARBER SHOP. t 

• | 

| Professional treatment for • 

l beautifying the skin and ? 

• hair. Try our special | 

f treatment for dandruff and f 

l itching scalps. Give me a £ 

f trial. i 

? MASSAGE OR SHAMPOO. 

Phone 2729-A. 1 

! 333 N. Main St., Memphis, Tenn. £ 


Mr. McDowell is an old personal friend 
of the writer, and is as fine a man as 
ever wore a brogan. As a barber he is 
in the first class and he has several 
customers that would prefer their hair 
to grow a foot long rather than to have 
any other barber but McDowell to cut it. 

McElroy, H. W.65% Poplar 

McGee, James .649 S. Wellington 

McMichael, J. E.233 S. Rayburn 

I J. E. McMICHAEL, I 

? f 

Tonsorial Parlor. ? 

s 2 ' 

| First Class Artists. I 

• • 

f 233 S. Rayburn, .. .. Memphis. • 

• • 

McNair, Milton C.278 N. Front 

Melson, F. W.359 Calhoun 


•I*.*..*..*.. 




Call at the 

PALACE BARBER SHOP, 

F. W. Melson, Propr. 

For any Style Hair Cut, Sham¬ 
poo, Sea Foam, Tonic, Shave and 
Massage. First-class work guar¬ 
anteed. 

359 Calhoun, Corner S. Fourth. 




Miller, Alexander .385 N. Dunlap 

Montgomery, Thos. R.R 213 E. Mc- 

Lemore. 

Moore, Benj. H.396 Monroe 

Moore, M. M.114 Beale 

Moore, Richard .328 Beale 








RICHARD MOORE, 
Barber Shop. 


i 
i 

* l 

i Improved Methods., Call. | 
f 328 Beale Ave., Memphis. ? 





































THE BRIGHT SIDE OE MEMPHIS. 


Ill 


Motley, Joshua E.962 Kansas 

Munford, J. H.5 N. Lauderdale 




• • 

? Razors Put in Order. } 

I J. H. MUNFORD, | 

• • 

First Class Barber Shop. • 

| Children’s Hair Cutting. | 

I 5 N. Lauderdale, Memphis. | 

• • 


Mutcheson, Thos. C.690 S. Main 

Nance, W. R.261 Rayburn 

Mr. Nance is one of the best in his 
business, and is as fine a man as he is 
a barber. He is really “Good Boy Billy.” 

Newburn, Taylor .304 Poplar 

Nicholson, James . 365y 2 Beale 

Oliver, Will .416 Beale 

Oneal, A. B.151 Madison 


A. B. ONEAL, 

First Class Barber Shop. 

Everything Up-to-date-* 

151 Madison, Memphis. 






Parker, Erwin . 319 Beale 

Parks, John .94 S. Fourth 

Perkins, James .87 Exchange 

Puckett, Wm.253 Poplar 

Mr. Puckett is a high-class gentleman 
and first-class barber. If he had not 
been the first he would not have won 
his estimable wife, and having won her, 
it would have been very difficult to 
have pleased her if he had not been the 
second. 

Roane, Robert .404 S. Driver 

Robertson, Collier F.990 Exchange 

Rogers, John .R 762 S. Main 

Ross, Lee .242 Jackson 

Simmons, Litt L.644 Beale 


Simms, Emerson .87 Exchange 

Smith, Wesley .341 Beale 

Stephens, Thomas .233 S. Rayburn 

Stewart, Haywood .348 Beale 

Stewart, Wm.928 N. Second 

Sullivan, John .349 Beale 

Mr. Sullivan is not as large as the 
famous Irish pugilist of that name, but 
Mr. Sullivan, the barber, can use his 
razor with the same skill that Mr. Sul¬ 
livan, the prizefighter, could use his 
dukes. 

Sullivan, J. M. 129y 2 Beale 

Taylor, B.144 Calhoun 

Taylor, Crede . 349 Beale 

Taylor, Richard . 325y 2 N. Main 






• RICHARD TAYLOR, 

t 

| Tonsorial Parlor. | 

! First Class Artists. 1 

• • 
325y 2 N. Main St., Memphis. ? 

* ? 

! ? 


Taylor, W. A.175Va Calhoun 

Terrell, Wesley.206 E. Calhoun 

Thomas, Chas.175 Beale 

Mr. Thomas is one of the smoothest 
manipulators of the razor in the busi¬ 
ness. All hair looks alike to him, and 
the man with the hog bristle hair or 
Bermuda grass hair is just as welcome 
as the man with the silken locks. “Tom¬ 
my,” as the writer has always called 
him, is the main stay of the E. S. 
Goens’ barber shop, and is as steady in 
the performance of his duties as the 
Custom House clock. 


Thomas, Sam J.319 Beale 

Mr. S. J. Thomas is a pioneer, both 
in the barber business and in the art 
of brass music in Memphis. The cause 
of music is deeply indebted to Mr. 
Thomas, who was the leading player 
and teacher of brass music for years. 

































112 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Mr. Thomas is a living contradiction to 
the general belief that a man cannot be 
both a musician and a gentleman, for 
lie is both in one. He is a leading mem¬ 
ber of the Immaculates of Tennessee, 
and has done much to further the cause 
of the fraternity. 


Thompson, Lucius .348 Beale 

Thornton, Matthew .N. Fourth 

Tunstell, J. T. ..129 y 2 Beale 


• ? 

| J. T. TUNSTELL, I 

• • 

Barber Shop. f 

f 

Improved Methods. Call. | 

£ 

1291/a Beale Ave., Memphis. | 


Vines, Henry 
Ward, Edward . . . 
Ware, Robert . .. 
Washington, J. H. 
Waters, George . . 


....242 Jackson 

.341 Beale 

754 S. Simmons 
. . . .94 S. Fourth 
. . 5401/z S. Third 


• » 

| Razors Put in Order. f 

I GEORGE WATERS, = 

• • 

• First Class Barber Shop. f 

| Children’s Hair Cutting. | 

1 5401/2 S. Third St., Memphis. ! 


Watson, Henry.547 Mississippi 

Wheatley, George .638 Georgia 


Whitehead, Wm.Gaston’s 

Wier, Robert .175 Beale 


Mr. Robert Wier is an expert in his 
line, and is one of the most reliable 
ones in the Goens’ barber shop. He is 
little in size but shaves \yith a big 
razor. 

Williams, E. K.114 Beale 

Williams, Edward W.416 S. Second 

Williams, J. B.19 N. Lauderdale 

Williams, J. E.349 Beale 


Mr. Williams has a lofty dome of 
thought that would make even Wm. 
Shakespeare turn green with envy if 
that great man should return to these 
mundane shores and see Mr. Williams’ 
classic brow. He is a barber with a 
big “B,” and one of the best artists 
that ever played a tune on a razor strop. 
He has traveled considerably and is a 
very well informed gentleman. 

Williams, John.334 N. Main 

Williams, John H.754 Union 


JOHN H. WILLIAMS, 
First Class Barber Shop. 
-Everything Up-to-date. 


754 Union Ave„ Memphis. 


Young, John.347 S. Third 

Young, George .Gaston’s 


Baths 


Brownlee, M. J.348 Beale 

I M. J. BROWNLEE, j 

| BATH ROOMS. 

| Everything Clean and Up-to-date. ? 
| 348 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. i 


Clay, M. L.349 Beale 

T M. L. CLAY, f 

IMPERIAL BATH HOUSE. 

T Experienced Service. | 

i 349 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. • 


Hoyle, L. H.341 Beale 

j L. H. HOYLE, J 

BATH HOUSE. 

I Modern Equipment. ? 

i 341 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. i 
































THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


113 


Beale Avenue Market 


Banks, D. C., Mrs.Stall 17 

Mrs. Banks has been connected with 
the Beale Avenue Market for such a 
long time that she seems to be as much 
a part of the market as the stalls them¬ 
selves. She is an experienced market 
woman, and is patronized by a host of 
friends. 

Banks, Vinnia, Mrs.Stall 27 

Mrs. Vinnia Banks has had many 
years’ experience in the market catering 
to the wants of the public, and has well 
merited the large patronage she has 
always enjoyed. She is a pleasant, af¬ 


fable, up-to-date woman, and knows the 
ins and outs of the marketing business. 
She is a native of the good old State of 
Virginia and some of the bluest blood 
of the Old Dominion State flows in her 
veins. She is very successful in her 
business. 

Bonner, Ida, Miss .Stall 31 

Miss Bonner is well acquainted, hav¬ 
ing had many years of experience with 
the vegetable business, and keeps one 
of the most attractive stalls in the 
market house. She is a thorough busi¬ 
ness woman and has succeeded nicely in 
her business. 


Bicycle Repairers 


Avery, Clark.R 927 Knight 

Davis, Leroy .672 Washington 

Mr. Davis is an expert bicycle me¬ 
chanic, and has held a responsible po¬ 
sition with one of the leading business 
houses of Memphis for several years. 
He has a mechanical turn of mind and 
has used his genius in a very profitable 
manner. He is also an experienced 
chauffeur, and ranks with the best in 
the city in the knowledge of automo¬ 
biles. He is a young man of fine judg¬ 
ment, as was shown in his selection of 
a wife ,who is the estimable daughter 
of Mr. Wm. Bentley, Sr., of this city. 
Mr. Davis is also a popular fraternity 
man and a good brother. 

Nabors, Thos.410 Monroe 

Mr. Nabors is a kind of universal 
genius. He is not only a bicycle re¬ 
pairer, but he is an automobilist and a 
practical locksmith. He has a mechan¬ 
ical turn of mind, and we would not be 
surprised soon to hear that he has made 
an air ship. Read his advertisement. 

Walker, Conner .Henniger’s 

Mr. Walker is the man that repairs 
anything that needs repairing. We have 


* 

l 


I 

i 


Go to NABORS’ i 

• 

The All-Round Expert Repairer. • 

HE REPAIRS Bicycles, Guns, f 
Automobiles, Pistols, Lawn Mow- | 
ers, Sewing Machines, Gasoline | 
Lamps and Stoves. • 

HE PAINTS All kinds of Signs. I 

HE SHARPENS All kinds of | 
Cutlery and Fits all kinds of ? 
Keys. • 


? He Also Does All Kinds of Sold- I 

| ering and Brazing. ? 

| Best Work and Lowest Cash f 

• Prices. I 

• ; 

• Give Him a Call, He Guarantees | 

t Satisfaction. • 

• • 

i 410 Monroe Ave., Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 


spoken of him elsewhere as being an 
electrician, a practical gun and lock¬ 
smith, a practical tool maker, and piano 
tuner. He can do them all well, and 
his patrons are always sure of complete 
satisfaction. 













114 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Blacksmiths 


Alexander, Clarence.1993 Linden 

Allen, Lafayette .Thomas 

Allison, J. & Co.244 Winchester 


I J. ALLISON & SON, I 

• f 

! Blacksmiths. ? 

? General Repairing. ? 

| 244 Winchester, Memphis, Tenn. 1 

• • 


Anderson, H, 


150 Gayoso 


I H. ANDERSON, | 

| Carriage and Wagon Maker and | 

Horseshoer. f 

• • 

f All Work Guaranteed. • 

I 150 Gayoso St., Memphis. | 

• • 


Amos, James 
Barnett, Augustus 
Barnett, Gaston . 
Barnett, Gus .... 
Bass, Joe . 


.393 E. Calhoun 

.Ross 

.665 Polk 

.397 E. Butler 

.. .Broens & McCarley 


Mr. Bass is a workman of superior 
ability, and is a credit to his race. As 
a workman he holds a very responsible 
position with one of the most reputable 
factories in Memphis. 


Bell, W. M.King’s Highway 

Bills, Eugene ....’.. Chas. W. Schley Co. 
Black, Thos .1043 Thomas 


Bowles, C. R. . .James & Graham W. Co. 


Mr. Bowles is one of the leading 
blacksmiths of the country. He is a 
very highly intelligent man and an up¬ 
right citizen and enjoys the confidence 
and respect of all classes of citizens. 
He has been connected with the James 
& Graham Wagon Co. for twenty-six 
years, and has been during all these 
years one of the most skillful workmen 
in the shop. He is a w T ell-read man and 


a thorough believer in the possibilities 
of the Negro race, of which he is one 
of its brightest representatives in more 
ways than one. He is a forceful and 
graceful speaker and brings to the plat¬ 
form the same excellence that is shown 
by him as a workman in the shop. He 
has the highest ideals of life and en¬ 
deavors to be in exemplication of his 
ideals. If the Negro race in this city 
had q, thousand representatives like Mr. 
Bowles, the result would be most grati¬ 
fying to the race’s welfare. There is 
nothing frivolous about him. He is al¬ 
ways serious, sober and thoughtful. 
With his strong, brawny arms he has 
always made an honest living for his 
family, and has striven, to educate his 
children to the full extent of his abili¬ 
ties. Mr. Bowler was at one time promi¬ 
nently connected with military affairs 
in Memphis, and was one of the best 
informed men connected with the State 
guard. 

Brad, James.Broens & McCarley 

Mr. Brad has a short name, but there 
is nothing short about his workmanship, 
for he is one of the best blacksmiths 
that ever struck an anvil. Mr. Brad 
is there with the blacksmith’s goods 
every day in the year. 

Braddock, James .165 Court 

Brown, Joseph .751 Walnut 

Centers, Will .986 S. Third 

Clark, Dennis . .James & Graham W. Co. 

Mr. Clark is a graduate of IvorWecht 
High School, and has gained in the shop 
that education of the hand that his 
alma mater could not give him. He is 
a steady, reliable young man. 

Clark, Pat .Ellis 

Clark, Patrick H.407 Driver 

Cole, John .735 Seattle 

Cooper, Jacob .682 Dickson 

Cotton, Henry .Boutall & Dix 

























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


115 


Mr. Cotton is a mechanic of superior 
ability and holds a very responsible po¬ 
sition with one of the leading wagon 
factories of Memphis. He is an intelli¬ 
gent man and knows his business all 
the way through. 

Cummings, R. B.W. Second, Sta. E 

Cuttler, Miles C.150 N. Dunlap 


Harrison, Harry Wilson & Vance 

Carriage & Wagon Works. 

Mr. Harrison is a workman of skill 
and experience and is connected with 
one of the leading wagon companies of 
Memphis. He is a pleasant gentleman, 
and his work is as satisfactory as his 
disposition is pleasant. 


I WILLIAM DAVIS, I 

• • 

| Blacksmith. t 

f General Repairing ! 

1 Orange Mound, Memphis, Tenn. ! 

• • 

Dickson, Hiram R. . .James & Graham 
Wagon Co. 

Mr. Dickson has been for 19 years 
one of the leading mechanics of the 
James & Graham Wagon Co., of Mem¬ 
phis. He is a workman of the highest 
ability and has not been superseded by 
any one in a great shop in which there 
are so many skillful and ambitious me¬ 
chanics. 

Echols, Pleas .C. H. Ross 

Mr. Echols is one of the finest me¬ 
chanics in Memphis, and as a workman 
is known far and wide for his superior 
ability. He seems £o have a natural 
gift for the blacksmith’s art. 

Edwards & Bell .756 Union 

I EDWARDS & BELL, I 

• ? 

| Blacksmiths, General Repairing, ? 

| Satisfactory Work. ! 

• 

| 756 Union Ave., Memphis, Tenn. ; 

• ! 

Ficklin, C. M.James & Graham 

Wagon Co. 

Franklin, Maurice .307 Ashland 

Gamble, Eli.Broens & McCarley 

Graham, Thos.N. Second, Sta. E 

Green, George.367 Dupree 

Green & Games .485 N. Dunlap 


Hayes, Walter .998 Louisa 

Hobson, Albert.673y 2 E. Georgia 

Irwin, Aaron .N. Second, Sta. E 

Jackson, Andrew .Kansas 

Jefferson, T. H.986 S. Third 

Johnson, Andrew .705 McKinley 

Johnson, Ed, Sr.336 Jefferson 

Mr. Johnson, Sr., is one of the oldest 
blacksmiths in Memphis, having been 
continuously engaged in the work for 
forty years. He has trained and grad¬ 
uated some of the leading blacksmiths 
of the city, and each one of them is a 
bright example of the masterly ability 
of his former teacher. He is the father 
of Attorney Edward Johnson, Jr. 

Johnson, Thos.292 S. Fourth 

Kelley, James.609 Alabama 

Key & Son.1026 Mississippi 

I KEY & SON, 

| Blacksmiths, | 

| General Repair Work. Satisfac- ? 
• tion Guaranteed. ? 

| 1028 Miss. Blvd., Memphis, Tenn. | 

; 1 

We have for years been personally ac¬ 
quainted with Mr. Key and family and 
know of his fine ability as a blacksmith. 
He has a family of blacksmiths and 
each one is an expert. 

Key, Robert.Pioneer Pole & Shaft 

Company. 

Mr. Robert Key is the son of A. Key, 
and is a member of a family of black¬ 
smiths. He is one of the best young 
blacksmiths in the State, and has a 
natural inclination in the direction of 
the blacksmith’s art. He can do won- 























116 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ders with a piece of iron and that is 
no joke. Mr. Key’s father builded bet¬ 
ter than he knew when he trained his 
son Robert in the business of a black¬ 
smith. 

Lee, Wm.Broens & McCarley 

Mace, John .771 S. Main 

McClendon, John Am. Fork & Hoe 

Company. 

Mercer, Lafayette .165 Court 

Mercer, Tait .R 300 Gayoso 

Monerlyn, Adam. .Love, bet. Florida and 
Kentucky. 


I A. MONERLYN, I 

? ! 

? General Blacksmithing. J 

| All light Tires set for 50 cents. | 

• All other work in accordance. • 

• , • 

• Guaranteed Satisfaction. ? 

• • 

? Love, Ave., bet Florida and Ken- f 

i tucky Sts. i 

* * 


Montgomery, Cary .418 S. Second 

Moss, Thos.549 S. Third 

Neal, Marshall .888 Alaska 

Neighbors, Percy-J. C. Dixon & Son 

Newsome, Lawrence.63 Saffarans 

Patton, J. W.J. C. Dix & Son 


I J. W. PATTON, | 

• • 

• Finisher and Rubber Tires, • 

| -with- ! 

i John C. Dix & Company, i 

I Memphis, Tenn. 1 

• • 


Air. Patton is a mechanic of the high¬ 
est class, and is as bright as two silver 
dollars. He is a sort of mechanical 
genius and is connected with a company 
that has been organized and chartered 
for the purpose of manufacturing auto¬ 
mobiles, etc., in Memphis. 

Phillips, Samuel ..Chickasaw Iron Wks. 
Robinson, Frank ..R 568 S. Wellington 
Robinson Philip .727 Florida 


Ross, Arthur .Ross 

Ross, Clifford H.581 S. Dudley 

*T,.a..#..*..#..#..#.. 

l CLIFFORD ROSS, ] 

f Blacksmith and Practical Horse- f 
| shoer. General Reparing ? 

| and Rubber Tiring | 

* a Specialty. • 

• • 

f New Phone 2542. 581 S. Dudley f 

i Memphis, Tenn. i 

• # 

Mr. Ross is master of his trade. His 
father was a blacksmith and taught his 
son to be one of the best in the coun¬ 
try. Mr. Ross is one of our most pro¬ 
gressive young men and is universally 
popular. His prospects in life are very 
bright. He has a very substantial rat¬ 
ing in the business world and is forging 
his way in more ways than one to the 
front rank of the substantial citizens of 
Memphis. No man is more industrious, 
more honest, and more faithful than 
Mr. Ross. He is the soul of honor, and 
his word among his friends will go as 
far as the President’s. He has an es¬ 
timable companion and an attractive 
family circle. 

Sanders, James P.1381 Jackson 

Savage, Fred, Jr.James & Graham 

Wagon Company. 

Sherman, George .165 Court 

Shivers, Samuel.N. Second, Sta. E 

Mr. Shivers is known far and wide as 
a very accomplished mechanic. He is 
a young man with trained hands and a 
bright intellect and is capable of achiev¬ 
ing the greatest success, both as a me¬ 
chanic and as a business man. 


Taylor, Bob.Chickasaw Iron Wks. 

Taylor, John .Fourth 


Taylor, Robert_Chickasaw Iron Wks. 

Mr. Taylor is a master blacksmith and 
holds an honorable position with one of 
the leading foundries of Memphis. He 
is unquestionably at the head of his 
profession as a skilled artisan. 























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


117 


Taylor, Robert ... .Memphis Coffin Co. 

Taylor, Wm.549 S. Third 

Timothy, Frank J.767 Tanglewood 

Turner, Harry .224 Winchester 

Tweed, John .Bell Buggy Co. 

Tyson, Noah . Jackson 

Upshaw, Burge .Patton 

Walker, Harry .243 N. Prince 

Young, N. S. 


Walker, Rasmus .R. 375 Union 

West, Wm.S. Third 

Whitfield, Ernest_R. 266 W. Colorado 

Williams, Houston .735 Alma 

Wordly, Lawson ... .Mem. Gas & L. Co. 

Wyatt, Thos.761 Alma 

Wyatt, Tom_Chas. W. Schley & Co. 

Young, Henry.407 E. Calhoun 

.758 Lula 


Boarding Houses 


Bunch, Samuel .730 Beale 

Davis, Hattie.440 S. Main 

Flannigan, Josephine ... .31 W. Carolina 

Harris, Nancy .942 Texas 

Jones, Mattie.763 Florida 

Jones, Walter.719 Pa. Ave. 

Manus, Malinda .751 Alma 

Newbry, Ellerson .380 Monroe 


Nish, Carrie .398 Monroe 

Quinn, Amanda .R. 642 Beale 

Rogers, Addie.57 E. McLemore 

Russell, Ella .1274 Florida 

Scales, Amanda ....R. 184 E. Carolina 

Scott, Mary .R. 1128 Texas 

Shedrick, Elvira .414 Ashland 

Steele, Hattie.97 S. Fourth 


Boilermakers 


Anderson, Buckner A.. .Taylor Boiler Co. 

Austin, Geo. W.Frisco, 806 Indiana 

Archer, James .Dan Shea 

Brooks, Samuel .248 N. Main 

Brown, Joseph .Dan Shea 

Ingraham, Wm. T.R. 301 Adams 

Ivory, Robert .708 Dixon 

Macklin, Walter ..N. C. & St. L. R. R. 


Reaves, Henry .690 Phelan 

Mr. Reaves is one of the most skillful 
boilermakers in the business. He has 
worked at his trade in various sections 
of the country and has gained a fine 
reputation as a mechanic. 

Thomas, James.St. L. R. R. 


Bookkeepers 


Banton, C. W.351 Beale 

Mr. Banton is a young man of fine 
ability in his chosen profession. For 
some time he has been head bookkeeper 
for the M. L. Clay Co. and has given 
perfect satisfaction. He is an all-round 
business man, and can fill in wherever 
first-class talent or unusual ability is 
needed. 

Beavers, J. S.444 Monroe 


Mr. Beavers is connected with one of 
the leading horse shoeing shops of Mem¬ 
phis and does his work to the satisfac¬ 
tion of his employers. 

Roddy, B. M.Solvent Savings Bank 

Mr. Roddy is the efficient bookkeeper 
of the Solvent Savings Bank. He is 
well known and popular and has a host 
of well wishers to encourage him to put 
forth his best efforts to succeed in life. 











































118 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Brass Bands 


Knights of Pythias Band. 

W. C. Handy, Leader. 

W. C. Handy, Instructor. 

M. Thornton, Cornet. 

Wesley Williams, Cornet. 

Paschal West, Cornet. 

John Scott, Cornet. 

Calvin Goodwin, Clarinet. 

William Gordon, Clarinet. 

Edward Williams, Alto. 

William Horn, Alto. 

Henry Moore, Trombone. 

Judge Sutton, Trombone. 

Thomas Williams, Trombone. 

Percy Williams, Baritone. 

Chas. Horton, Tuba. 

0. C. Claxton, Drum. 

Isaac Davis, Drum. 

Headquarters—N. Fourth Street, Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn. 


Kortrecht High School Band, 

G. P. Hamilton, Manager. 

G. P. Hamilton, Instructor. 

C. J. Williamson, Cornet. 

F. T. Lane, Cornet. 

Wm. Ramsey, Cornet. 

Henry Hunt, Cornet. 

Edward Foster, Baritone. 

Jasper Duncan, Alto. 

Emmet Rice, Alto. 

Herman Smith, Alto. 

Chas. Morton, Clarinet. 

A. McEwen, Trombone. 

Wm. Gurney, Trombone. 

Winfred Blaine, Tuba. 

John Carson, Drum. 

Samuel Oliver, Drum. 

Headquarters: Kortrecht High School 
Department, 346 Clay Street, Memphis, 
Tenn. 


North Memphis Brass Band. 
Jacob Roman, Leader. 

Jacob Roman, Cornet. 


Will Tennings, Cornet. 

George Peeples, Cornet. 

Joseph Knight, Cornet. 

William Scott, Baritone. 

Smith Roman, Alto. 

Harrison Stiggers, Alto. 

James Richardson,. Trombone. 

Otis Elder, Trombone. 

Louis Braden, Clarinet. 

Ned Henry, Drum. 

Arthur Ballard, Drum. 

Headquarters: Auction Avenue and 
Seventh Street, Memphis, Tenn. 


Odd Fellows’ Band. 

John Lewis, Leader. 

John Lewis, Cornet. 

Clarence Hurt, Cornet. 

George Hawkins, Cornet. 

George Hunt, Cornet. 

James Hunt, Cornet. 

C. Tindall, Clarinet. 

George Graham, Clarinet. 

Sylvanus Lott, Baritone. 

Chas. Brown, Alto. 

Alex. Carter, Alto. 

J. C. McNeal, Trombone. 

James Hilliard, Trombone. 

Alex. Lovelace, Trombone. 

John Avery, Drum. 

George Higgins, Drum. 

Headquarters: LeMoyne Normal In¬ 
stitute, 240 S. Orleans St., Memphis, 
Tenn. 


Stone Cornet Band, 
Albert Stone, Leader. 

Albert Stone, Cornet. 

Charles Williamson, Cornet. 
William Hill, Cornet. 

Jasper Duncan, Cornet. 

Paul Ross', Trombone. 
Charles Steele, Trombone. 
Alonzo McEwen, Trombone. 







THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


119 


Charles Morton, Clarinet. 

James Smith, Tuba. 

Frazer Lane, Baritone. 

Alex. Duke, Drum. 

H. J. Bowman, Drum. 

Headquarters: Poplar avenue, Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn. 

Few cities of the size of Memphis can 
boast of as many good brass bands. At 
one time in its history the city of Mem¬ 
phis had but one first-class brass band, 
and it is doubtful if any one of the 
present bands ever equaled the Young 


Men’s Association Band when it was at 
its zenith. In the year of 1902 a band 
was organized among the pupils of Ivor- 
trecht High School by the principal. The 
success arising from his efforts in this 
direction was an inspiration to others 
to attempt similar results, and that ex¬ 
plains the unusual number of brass 
bands in Memphis. The interest in mu¬ 
sic has also been stimulated by the 
series of band contests which were aus¬ 
piciously begun at Klondyke Park on 
the 17th of August, 1908. 


Brick Masons and Contractors 


Abrams, Leonard.447 East Georgia 

Beard, James .782 Alaska 

Bell, Dee.I. C. R. R. 

Bomar, Hayne M.718 Third 

Brown, Charles.569 E. Iowa 

Brown, Edward.305 Sanderson 

Brown, John.R 214 Gayoso 

Brown, W. H. F.South Lauderdale 

Calhoun, Walter. .R 315 North Dunlap 

Catron, Samuel.906 Jefferson 

Chase, Wm. A.139 West Georgia 

Clark, William.589 St. Paul 

Coleman, Grant.Auction 

Cooley, Benjamin F.400 Driver 

Cooper, John.812 Williams 

Copeland, Paul .156 Calhoun 

Cotton, B. J.621 St. Paul 

Driver, William.628 East Georgia 

l WILLIAM DRIVER, j 

l Brick Contractor, | 

| General Repair Work. | 

Satisfaction Given. ? 

: 

I 628 E. Georgia, Memphis, Tenn. | 

4 | 

Duncan, George.990 Latham 


t GEORGE DUNCAN, | 

| Brick Contractor. | 

! General Job Work and Repairing. ! 

! Satisfaction Guaranteed. I 

: 

! 990 Latham St., Memphis, Tenn. ! 

• t 

Mr. Duncan is a man of fine intelli¬ 
gence and an artisan of the first rank. 
He is an experienced mechanic and has 
the technical education to understand 
all the difficulties of his profession. He 
is an old schoolmate of the author and 
one for whom the author has the high¬ 
est regard. 

Fleming, William.577y 2 Suzette 

Franklin, Charles.777 Dixon 

Frazier, Russell.684 E. Robinson 

Glover, William.1280 Saxon 

Goodlow, David.192 S. Manassas 

Gray, Harry E.577 E. Dudley 

Green, Robert.28 Gholston 

f t 

l D. G. HODGES, T 

• • 

• Brick Contractor. '• 

• t 

l 718 South Fourth St., Memphis. ? 

• • 






























120 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ROBERT GREEN, ] 

BRICK CONTRACTOR. 

• t 

f Special attention given to man- • 
? tie, grate and tile setting; all ? 
i work guaranteed first-class. i 

f Office: Zion Hall, 435 Beale Ave. $ 
| Memphis Phone 3033. | 

f Residence, 28 Gholston St. t 

• South Memphis. • 

? • 

.■..•..•..•..•..•..•..•.■••d'* 

Harris, W. H.Chappin 

Hart, Henry....New Cordes Sub. Okla. 

Henry, Frank.237 Leath 

Hodges, D. G.718 S. Fourth 

Mr. Hodges is one of the best brick 
masons in the whole country. He is so 
generally and favorably known as an 
• artisan that it seems unnecessary to 
make any comment on his ability. He 
is foreman with one of the leading brick 
contractors of the city and is consid¬ 
ered by all citizens to be at the head 
of his profession. 

Hodges, Edgar.718 S. Fourth 

Jackson, Peter.R 415 Union 

James, Edward.896 Leath 

Johnson, Richard. .Memphis and Tenn. 
Trust Building. 

Johnson, Robert.608 Wicks 

Johnson, William.383 Dunlap 

Jones, Charles.R 338 South Second 

Jones, Charles.South Second 

Logan, Julian A....Coker, New Chicago 

Maddox, Joe. Unknown 

Malone, Charles. Unknown 

Martin, Isaac J.734 Alabama 

Martin, Robert H.1096 Indiana 

Mason, Henry.235 Caldwell 

Mason, Ralph.99 S. Lauderdale 

McBride, John.176 E. Railroad 

McCracken, John. Unknown 

Meadows, Gustave.840 Alma 

Montgomery, Frank. Vallentine 

Moss, J. H.Unknown 

Oliver, James.1325 S. Wellington 

Parker, William.958 S. Ford 

Porter, Emmet .Spotswood 


Pritchard, John. Unknown 

Raines, Marshall.315 Ayers 

Ray, Cowan. Polk 

Reeves, Tom. Unknown 

Rhinehardt, Booker...873 E. Brunswick 

Saddler, Wm.R 389 E. Calhoun 

Scott, Wm.1083 Kimbro 

| WILLIAM SCOTT, 

I BRICK CONTRACTOR. 

• • 

• Repairing and general jobbing. • 

? All orders receive prompt atten- T 
i tion. • 

! 1083 Kimbro St., Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

Mr. Scott is one of the most capable 
brick contractors in the city of Mem¬ 
phis. He is a master of his trade and 
does nothing but work of the best 
character. He is a witty, congenial 
gentleman, and universally popular. He 
is a musician of ability and plays the 
clarinet in a most charming manner. He 
scatters pleasantness and sunshine 

wherever he goes and is a very desirable 
neighbor and friend. 

Taylor, Loui.646 Court 

Taylor, Samuel.996 Louisa 

Thomas, Daniel.343 N. Manassas 

Thomas, Riley. Unknown 

Turner, Allen.Belt Line 

Vance, Evans.722 S. Orleans 

Vance, Harold.722 S. Orleans 

Vance, Wash.722 S. Orleans 

Mr. Vance is one of the most finished 
workmen in the business he follows. His 
mastery of the brick layers’ trade has 
always been a source of satisfaction to 
his friends, who have always claimed 
that Mr. Vance is at the head of his 
class. He is a good citizen, a good 
father, a peaceful neighbor and a faith¬ 
ful friend. His sons are chips off the 
same old block, as it were, and are 

splendid workmen. 

Vanhook, James.875 Webb 

Webb, Sim.602 S. Wellington 

Williams. Wm.1370 Fowler 

Wilson, George.902 S. Wellington 

Winbrish, Lee.963 Monroe 

Wood, General .Ropers Alley 

Worthey, Henry. Unknown 

Wright, Louis.560 Wicks 


















































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


121 


Broom Makers 


Banks, Joseph. Unknown 

Beasley, Walter. .Merchants Broom and 
Mop Company. 

Boyd, E. C.596 Monroe 

Mr. Boyd is one of the oldest and 
most experienced broom makers in Mem¬ 
phis, and is an artist in his line. It is 
doubtful if a broom maker superior to 
him can be found in the city of Mem¬ 
phis. 

Brown, Governor H.340 E. Calhoun 

Burks, Aug. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 
Co. 

Burks, Frank.. Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Burks, Gus. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 
Co. 

Burks, Joe. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 
Co. 


Burks, Moses. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 
Co. 

Chapman, Jack. .Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Dallas, Robert. .Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Durant, William.380 S. Second 

Gardner, Wm. .Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Jones, Richard.906 S. Fourth 

Lott, Sylvanus .. Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Martin, Wm. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 

Miller, Walter, Merchants’ Broom & 
Mop Co. 

Morton, Will. .Merchants’ Broom & Mop 
Co. 

Reynolds, Nathan. .Southern Broom Co.. 

Stephenson, Earl.962 S. Nesbit 


Butchers 


Before beginning the classified list of 
butchers it may be necessary to explain 
to the reading public exactly what the 
qualifications of a firstclass butcher are. 
The ordinary impression of the qualifica¬ 
tion of a first-class butcher is erroneous. 
The general idea is that a butcher is a 
man that stands behind the meat count¬ 
er and cuts meat for the public. Many 
a man that cuts meat for the public 
hasn’t the slightest qualification for a 
first-class butcher. He is simply a meat 
cutter, a position which any ordinary 
man may be taught to fill with a few 
weeks’ instructions. To be a first-class 
butcher requires years of patient appli¬ 
cation. A real butcher is supposed to 
know everything that can be done with 
a piece of meat. He is supposed to have 
begun his training either in the slaugh¬ 
ter house or in the packing house and to 
have stayed in either until he has served 


his full apprenticeship which covers a 
period of several years. Any one who 
has noticed the various forms in which 
meat is prepared for public use can 
gain some faint idea of the thorough 
preparation necessary to become a first- 
class butcher. Through the kindness of 
one or two of the experienced butchers 
whom we have had the pleasure of 
meeting we have gained some informa¬ 
tion as to the apprenticeship one must 
go through before reaching the exalted 
position of a first-class butcher. As 
a rule, the person intending to become a 
butcher begins his apprenticeship in the 
packing house or slaughter house at a 
very early age, or when a mere boy. 
His first duty is to bring water. His 
next duty is to learn how to keep the 
rags clean. He then learns how to keep 
fire in the hog kettles; next he learns 
how to scrape hogs, after that he is 











122 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


taught how to riddle the animals’ in¬ 
testines and to clean chitterlings and 
tripe. He next learns to take off the 
front foot of cattle. Then he learns 
liow to saw briskets and breasts; next 
he learns to hang up and gut the ani 
mal. Next he is taught how to drop 
the hide from the animal’s neck. He 
then learns how to turn the rim on 
the beef. Then he learns how to side 
and saw down. By this time his knowl¬ 
edge of dealing with beeves and hogs 
is satisfacory. Then his training is 

transferred to butchering the sheep. 

First he is taught how to hold the 
•sheep while it is stuck. Then he learns 
how to cut strings and tie legs; next 
he is taught how to wipe off the sheep. 
After this he is shown how to place 
the hides. Then comes the knowledge 
of running the guts. Next he is taught 
how to leg a sheep; then to pelt the 
sheep. At this time he is ready to 

receive his diploma as a graduate in 

slieepology. Having, after a period of 
years, learned how to manipulate the 
beef, hog and sheep he is now ready to 
begin his apprenticeship in the meat 
market or butcher shop. In this new 
position his first duty is to carry or¬ 
ders. He next learns how to wipe off 
the counters and tools, and to keep the 
blocks clean. He then learns how to 
bone out scrap meat and to make meat 
for sausage. He then learns to saw be¬ 
hind the butcher. He takes up the 
sawing of soup bones. He then learns 
to cut chuck steak, to block out cattle, 
to master the round steak and to deal 
with pounds. Having served this ap¬ 
prenticeship extending over a period of 
several years the faithful apprentice 
may modestly presume to have some 
slight knowledge of the duties of a first- 
class butcher. All the names in the 
classified list in this book have been 
given to the author as the names of 
those that have served such an ap¬ 
prenticeship as designated above. Most 


of these gentlemen have served for 
fifteen, twenty and thirty years in the 
business and know it from A to Z. Most 
of them hold very responsible positions. 

Allen, Wm. ..Seessel’s Slaughter House 
Bell, Edward. .Seessel’s Slaughter House 
Burton, James. .Kehy’s Slaughter House 

Cain, Silas .1042 Thomas 

Finley, Caleb . .. .W. A. Forto’s Market 



Fowler, Daniel .Fulton Market 


.^.•.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ., a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..!. 

DANIEL FOWLER. 

• • 

? Champion Butcher f 

i of | 

f Memphis. $ 

• • 

f Head Butcher Fulton Market. • 
? Jefferson Ave. and Second, 

S : 

; Memphis, Tenn. ? 

? • 

»p. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ,. a ., a . A 

Mr. Fowler fills the responsible posi¬ 
tion of head butcher in the leading mar- 
ket of the city. The Fulton Market is 
known far and wide as a first-class es¬ 
tablishment and consequently demands 
that its butchers be men of the greatest 
















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


123 


ability. Mr. Fowler is one of the 
premier butchers of the city. He be¬ 
gan his apprenticeship in the packing 
house, and is a master of his trade. He 
is called the Champion Butcher of 
Memphis because of his success in the 
championship contest held at Klondyke 
Park in the summer of 1908. In this 
butchers’ contest Mr. Fowler killed and 
dressed a sheep in the remarkably short 
time of 5 minutes and 18 seconds. 

Franklin, Charley. .Nick Strehl’s Mar¬ 
ket House. 

Galloway, Aaron.. Armour Packing Co. 

Mr. Galloway is very widely known 
as one of our most experienced and up- 
to-date butchers. We have heard the 
very best of testimonials concerning his 
ability, and he is no doubt one of the 
best butchers in the business. 

Gilfred, Garfield. .North Memphis Stock 

Yards & Laboratory Co. 

Green, Henry. .North Memphis Stock 
Yards and Laboratory Co. 

Harris, Frank. .Nick Strehl’s Market 
House. 

Mr. Frank Harris is a butcher in the 
fullest acceptation of the term. He is 
a graduate in his art and has served in 
it long and faithfully. The author feels 
himself deeply obligated to Mr. Harris 
for the information given in these col¬ 
umns to the public concerning the ap¬ 
prenticeship of a first-class butcher. Mr. 
Harris is one of the leading butchers 
in the public market house and is a 
gentleman of whom the community 
should be proud. 

Harris, Henry. .North Memphis Stock 
Yards & Laboratory Co. 


Hightower, Jefferson.. .Concord & Main 
Jackson, Norman.Miles Slaughter House 
Johnson, Major..North Memphis Stock 
Yards & Laboratory Co. 

Jones, Perry...Mat Moneghan’s Market 
Kirk, James. .Second & Mill, Sausage 
Factory. 

Mr. Kirk is a veteran butcher. We 
are told that he has been one of the 
leading butchers for 30 years. 

Lynch, Sidney. .North Memphis Stock 
Yards & Laboratory Co. 

Neely, Ben.Stahl’s Meat Market 

Mr. Neely is an old slaughter house 
man and*knows all the details of his 
business. He is very anxious for the 
butchers of Memphis to become more 
closely united and to form an organiza¬ 
tion among themselves. 

Peebles, Noble, Sr.Brown & Nesbit 

Mr. Peeples is a butcher of over 30 
years’ experience. His name is Noble, 
but even this excellent name does not 
do him full justice as a gentleman and 
an experienced butcher. 

Silarry, Gus.. Otto Kahn’s Chelsea House 
Smith, Frederick. .North Memphis Stock 
Yards & Laboratory Co. 

Mr. Smith is foreman of one of the 
stock yards in the city. He is an expert 
butcher with an experience of more than 
20 years. We had the pleasure of 
meeting him and were much gratified to 
see him filling so creditably such a posi¬ 
tion of responsibility and trust. 

Taylor, Henry.Fulton Market 

Wallace, Ben.McCarver Slaughter 

House. 






124 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Cabinet Makers 


Anderson, Wm....A. D. Gibson & Sons 

Bowman, Israel.139 Oklahoma 

Jones, Joseph... .Tennessee Lumber Co. 


McGhee, Perry P. . . .Memphis Coffin Co. 

Thomas, Grant.237 Gayoso 

Warner, Berry. Park 


Calcimining 


I SIMPSON WEBSTER I 

• • 

• Calcimining, • 

? Plastering, : 

i and Decorating, i 

1 Satisfaction Guaranteed. 1 

1 959 Monroe St., Memphis, Tenn. | 

• • 


Brown, John... .Beale & Southern R. R. 

Morris, S.1515 South Azalia 

Perkins, Arthur.300 Gayoso 

Webster, Simpson.959 Monroe 


Candy Makers 


Alexander, Henry... .Novelty Candy Co. 
Alley, Phil M.920 Lauderdale 

Mr. Alley is an old and experienced 
candy maker and knows the business in 
all of its phases. He is an honorable 
citizen and enjoys the confidence of all 
that know him. 

Anderson, Ridley J.609 Exchange 

Coschman, Will. .. .Chickasaw Candy Co. 
Crompton, Chas... Chickasaw Candy Co. 

Crawford, Chas.381 Monroe 

Hart, Henry.Novelty Candy Co. 

Hayden, Donnie Wagner Candy Factory 

Mr. Hayden is an old pupil of the au¬ 
thor and no one is prouder than he of 
Mr. Hayden’s fine ability as a candy 
maker. Mr. Hayden is a quiet, steady, 
industrious young man and has made 
his mark as one of the most expert 
workmen in his line. He is all right. 

Lee, Thos. Floyd’s 

Link, Edward.Novelty Candy Co. 


Lowe, Chas. Williams 

Morton, Chas.393 McLemore 

Mr. Morton is the oldest candy mak¬ 
er in Memphis, having been conected 
with the business for more than 40 
years. Most of the older candy makers 
have served an apprenticeship under Mr. 
Morton, and this fact explains their ex¬ 
cellence as workmen. Mr. Morton is one 
of our best citizens. He has reared a 
splendid family and all of his children 
are worthy examples of the best home 
training. He has a valuable home on 
McLemore avenue in the most aristo¬ 
cratic part of the city. 

Morton, Nathaniel A..Novelty Candy Co. 

Mr. Morton is a fine candy maker. He 
inherited his ability from his father, 
who is the undisputed veteran and mas¬ 
ter in the candy business. 

Perkins, Robert. .. Chickasaw Candy Co. 
Prentiss, Clayton.607 Woodward 

























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Richardson, George.595 St. John 

Scott, A. J.Novelty Candy Co. 

Mr. Scott is an expert candy manipu¬ 
lator and is the peer of almost anyone 
in the business. 

Stewart, H.274 California 

Mr. Stewart is a gentleman of long 
and successful experience in the candy 
business and probably comes next to Mr. 
Morton in length of service. He is a 
finished candy man with a splendid rec¬ 
ord for success. 

Taylor, Chas.Novelty Candy Co. 

Mr. Taylor is an expert in the candy 

business." He is foreman of the Novelty 


125 

Candy Company, and an intelligent 
young man in every respect. The honor 
of being foreman of the factory where 
he works reflects great credit on him 
and he reflects credit on the position. 

Williams, Walter.276 Exchange 

Wooten, James. .Oliver Finnie Grocery 
Co. 

Mr. Wooten is an old boyhood friend 
of the author and a past master in the 
candy makers’ art. His proficiency in 
his business is so generally known that 
comment is hardly necessary. He is a 
fine candy maker and as fine a man as 
he is a candy maker. 


Carpenters and Contractors 


CARPENTERS & CONTRACTORS. 

Abram, Holsey.608 Wicks 

Abram, M. Box 64, Trezevant 




I M. ABRAM, 

f CARPENTER & BUILDER. 

All Work Guaranteed. t 

1 Box 64 Trezevant, Memphis, Tenn | 

t ? 

Adams, George.1619 Latham 

Adams, Wesley.....1619 Latham 

Alexander, James.476 Concord 

Allen, John.293 West Railroad 

Anderson, Harvey.414 Ashland 

Andrews, Thos.224 Linden 

Anthony, James.288y 2 Walnut 

Askew, Sidney.971 S. Third 

Aston, Walter C.739 S. Hobart 

•j. 

I WALTER C. ASTON, 

i ? 

Carpenter & Builder. ; 

T i 

! 739 Hobart St., Memphis, Tenn. i 

• 1 


Bailey, Andrew C.R 915 N. Second 

Ballard, Moses. McGhee 

Banks, James.397 Linden 

Barbee, Pink.714 S. Orleans 

Bates, Henry.. .45 Capitol, New Chicago 

? HENRY BATES, I 

• • 

• Contractor and Builder. • 

• • 

• All work guaranteed. • 

| Send for him. ? 

| 45 Capital, New Chicago 1 

! Memphis, Tenn. | 

Mr. Bates is one of the most finished 
contractors in Memphis. In New Chi¬ 
cago may be seen nearly a dozen of 
the most elegant residences in Mem¬ 
phis that were built by him. He is a 
remarkable man in many respects, and 
it is doubtful if he can be surpassed as 
a master workman. 

Bates, Wm.404 Turley 

Beasley, Scott. Oak 

Bellford, Reuben.E. Winfred 

Bentley, Robert A.1198 Keel 































126 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Biggs, Stephen.354 S. Humphreys *j* 






STEPHEN BIGGS, ] 

Contractor and Builder. ? 

Residence: 354 S. Humphreys. f 
Memphis Phone: 2023. | 

Memphis, Tenn. 1 




Mr. Biggs is a high class carpenter 
and could not do unsatisfactory work 
even if he should attempt it. He is an 
honest carpenter, who believes in giving 
value received for the money. 

Bobo, Horace.437 St. Paul 

Bolden, Alfred.221 S. Somerville 

Bonds, George.890 Lane 

Bones, Joseph.416 Ashland 

Bowen, Isaac.226 Vollentine 

Bowen, W. E.Jones & White 


W. B. BURCHETT, 

| Carpenter and Builder. | 

f Satisfactory work. Call Him | 
| 729 Leach St., Memphis. 

Burrows, Wm. H.753 Speed 


W. H. BURROWS, 
Contractor and Builder. 

Residence: 753 Speed St. 
Telephone: 304. 

Memphis, Tenn. 


•a..*..a..*. 

W. E. BOWEN, I 

Carpenter and Builder. ? 

Memphis Phone 2796. ? 

All Work Guaranteed. • 

Jones and White, Memphis, Tenn. | 


»|«.a<.a-.a..a>.a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a>.a<.a..a..a..a>.a..a..a..a..a..a..a.'i" 

Bowers, Wright.775 Indiana 

Box, Ephraim.738 Speed 

Boyce, Wm.R 387 S. Third 

Branch, Sedrick.157 Decatur 

Brown, Andrew J.R 202 E. Carolina 

Brown, Chas. R.478 Wicks 


^•.•..•..•..a..a..a~a..a..a..a..a»a..a»a~a..a»a..«..a~a..*..a..*..*.^« 

Mr. Burrows is one of the master 
builders of Memphis, and has gained an 
enviable reputation in his profession. 
He is a high class man, both personally 
and professionally, and enjoys universal 
respect and esteem. His estimable wife 
is one of the beloved daughters of Bishop 
Isaac Lane, of Jackson, Tenn., and since 
Mr. Burrows’ marriage to this talented 
lady he has thriven and flourished like 
a green bay tree. Mr. Burrows looks 
the prosperous citizen. He is apparently 
well fed and always well groomed, and 
presents the apeparance of a great 
tragedian on the stage rather than that 
of a prosperous contractor and builder. 
Mr. Burrows does high class work, as 
befits a high class man. 

Cannon, J. J.658 Stephens 

i i • 


| CHAS. R. BROWN, 

| Carpenter and Builder. 

j 478 Wicks, - Memphis, Tenn. 

Brown, S. Trezevant 

Brown, W. H.794 Williams 

Bryant, Wm.593 Larose 

Bullard, Benjamin.1446 Lamar 

Burchett, W. B.729 Leach 


J. J. CANNON, 
Contractor and Builder. 


f 

658 Stephens St., Memphis, Tenn. | 


Mr. Cannon knows his business. No 
man with such a significant name can 
fail to shoot the mark whatever it may 
be. He is there with the goods when 
any noise is made like carpenter’s work. 























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


127 


Carr, James.9 N. Willett 

Carter, Hiram.451 S. Wellington 

Catron, Thos.1306 S. Waldran 

Chalmers, E. D.456 Wicks 

Cherry, Edward.R 375 E. Calhoun 

Chester, Christopher.691 Looney 

Childs, Leroy.365 Walnut * 

Clark, Chas..274 Gilbert 

Claybrook, John C.932 S. Bellevue 

Conner, Chas.131 S. Fourth 

CHAS. CONNER, I 

? a 

• Carpenter and Builder. f 

i Prompt attention given to all | 
f work. • 

i 131 S. Fourth, Memphis, Tenn. | 

? j 


Davis, Clifton.702 Linden 

Duncan, P. H.308 Poplar 


t • 

f P. H. DUNCAN, 

t 

| Contractor and Builder. | 

| Office. 308 Poplar St. 
i Residence: ? 

f Phone: 

| Memphis, Tenn. 

? • 

Mr. Duncan stands at the head of the 

enterprising and capable contractors and 

builders of Memphis. 


Dunn, John.942 Emmie 

Edwards, Robert L.764 Ayers 

Ellison, H. C.358 Beale 


Couch, Thos. Klondyke 

Cox, Joseph.1087 Carr 

Crittenden, R. L.590 Washington 


I R. L. CRITTENDEN, I 

• • 

• Contractor and Builder. ? 

i All Work Guaranteed. | 

? Telephone: 1044. | 

i Residence: 590 Washington St. • 

i Memphis, Tenn. | 

• • 

Mr. Crittenden is one of the leading 
contractors of Memphis. It is seldom 
the case that a man bearing the name 
of Crittenden is a failure in any line, 
and this gentleman is no exception to 
the rule. He has a splendid reputation 
as a first-class mechanic. 


Dammons, Jacob W.45 Capital 


JACOB W. DAMMONS, 

Carpenter. 

—with— 

Henry Bates, 

New Chicago. 

45 Capital St., Memphis, Tenn. 


? 








: 


H. C. ELLISON, 


Contractor and Builder. ? 

| Office: 358 Beale Ave. 

f Phones: New, 624; Cumberland, 

| 4255A. 

i Residence: 728 Alaska St. T 

f Phone: Memphis, 1601. ? 

• Memphis, Tenn. I 


Mr. Ellison first saw the light of day 
in the state of Georgia. He has had an 
experience of 20 years in the contract¬ 
ing business and is one of the most 
competent workmen that ever manipu¬ 
lated the square and saw. Since coming 
to Memphis and engaging in his busi¬ 
ness as contractor and builder he has 
erected some of our most elegant and 
substantial buildings. He erected Mount 
Olive C. M. E. Church, one of our hand¬ 
somest churches; the Crystal Ice and 
Coal Co.’s building on Union ave.; the 
Patton Memorial Chapel on the Hernan¬ 
do road, which was donated by Mr. D. 
W. Washington to the Old Folks and 
Orphan’s Home as a memorial to his 
former wife, Dr. Patton. He built the 
Metropolitan Baptist Church on Vance 
avenue. He also does special contract 
work for the Louisville & Nashville R. 



































128 THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


R. Co., which is an honor that is sel¬ 
dom conferred upon a colored man. Mr. 
Ellison has made remarkable progress 
as a contractor in the short time that 
he has been a citizen of Memphis. Now 
he is universally known and esteemed, 
both as a workman and as a citizen. 
He is prominently connected with Provi¬ 
dence A. M. E. Church, and is a useful 
member. He has an elegant home in 
Klondyke and it is in every respect a 
building worthy of a prosperous con¬ 
tractor and builder. 

Fields, Cyrus. Lipford 

Finger, Jesse.1074 Lamar 

Fleetwood, Austin.84 W. Colorado 

Fleetwood, James.84 W. Colorado 

Fleming, Henry.579 Walnut 


Fletcher, 0. G.862 Porter 


0. G. FLETCHER, j 


Contractor and Builder. 

Residence: 862 Porter. 
Phone: 2259. 

Memphis, Tenn. 



Mr. Fletcher has been a resident of 
Memphis for only a few years, but in 
that short time he has thoroughly dem¬ 
onstrated his ability as a master con¬ 
tractor and builder. Since coming to 
Memphis he has erected a number of 
splendid buildings, and each one is a 
testimonial of his skill. He erected 
the Devorken flats on Vance avenue, the 
New Prospect Baptist Church and the 
Ben Johnson flats, corner of Calhoun 
avenue and Hernando. He built the 
Union drug store and the Kelley build¬ 
ing. He also has the construction of 
the magnificent five-story Masonic build¬ 
ing of this city. Mr. Fletcher was born 
in Illinois and has a great deal of the 
proverbial shrewdness and ability of 
those that come from Yankeeland. He 
lias been actively engaged in the con¬ 
tracting business for ten years, and, 
judging from his splendid success in 
Memphis his prospects in his business 
are brilliant indeed. He is a polished, 
intelligent, practical young man, and has 
achieved success in more than one ave¬ 
nue of life. His splendid education gives 
him a distinct advantage over the ordi¬ 
nary mechanic, and his technical knowl¬ 
edge enables him to measure arms with 
the best informed contractors of the 
opposite race. Mr. Fletcher has already 
earned a fine reputation as a contractor 
and he is in line for the leadership in 
the contracting business. 

Ford, Chas. W.377 S. Humphrey 

Franklin, Jesse,.623 E. Georgia 

Gallimore, George.524 S. Third 

Garrett, James.967 Peach 

Gibson, George.628 Wicks 

Gillam, Guss.922 N. Main 

Gilliam, Herbert.67 E. Trigg 

Glover, Morgan.595 S. Rosentine 

Gordon, Charles.1059 Mississippi 

Gray, James C.430 E. Butler 

Griffin, Chas.350 Haynes 

Gross, Chas.945 S. Ford PI. 

Hamilton, David.718 Monroe 

Hardin, Yancy.906 Florida 




























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


129 


Harris, Walter H 
Harrison, Louis.. 
Hogan, Alonzo. .. 
Hudson, Robert. . 

Hughes, M. 

Hunt, Blair T. .. 


..392 Allen 
..252 Leath 
N. Red Elm 
605 Monroe 
.. Trezevant 
.693 Linden 


BLAIR T. HUNT, \ 

l Contractor and Builder. ? 

• 693 Linden, Memphis. | 


Mr. Hunt is a contractor of established 
ability and a descendant of a master 
builder. He is one of our best and best- 
known citizens, and can be relied upon 
to render satisfactory service in every 
instance. He is not a cheap workman, 
but a first-class mechanic and no mis¬ 
take will be made by any one who is in 
need of high-class work at live-and-let- 
live prices. 


Hunt, David . . 
Jackson, Henry 
Jackson, Leroy. 
Jones, Polk. .. . 


.746 McKinley 
.. . 328 Decatur 
R 269 Walnut 
.20 W. Illinois 


I POLK JONES, 

| Carpenter and Builder, 

• All work guaranteed. 

? 20 W. Illinois, Memphis, Tenn. 


Mr. Jones is not only one of our most 
capable carpenters and builders, but he 
is one of our best citizens. His children 
are well educated and talented and give 
evidence of the parental care bestowed 
upon them. 

Kimbrough, Thos.588 Autumn 

King, James.726 Maple 

Lewis, Eldridge.943 Madison 

Lott, Geo. F.368 Elliott 


? 


GEORGE LOTT, 
Carpenter and Builder. 


368 Elliott 


Memphis. 




Manuel, Robert_R. 976 E. McLemore 

Marmon, August D.Frisco R. R. 

Martin, Samuel .R. 640 Suzette 

Matthews, Mack.765 Alma 

May, John J.947 Louisa 

Mays, Monroe.686 S. Wellington 

McCaskill, Wm.120 S. Belmont 

McCrarey, John.674 Polk 

McCrinnell, Mr.131 S. Fourth 

McDonald, James B. .. .621 E. Jessamine 

McHenry, Miles.686 S. Third 

Meadows, Robert.761 Hastings 

Michens, Henry.617 N. Second 

Mitchell, James H.371 E. Calhoun 


»T.. a .. a .. a . v ., c .. a .. a .. a .. a .. s .. a . 

JAMES MITCHELL, | 

! • 

l Contractor and Builder. 

• 371 East Calhoun St., Memphis. | 

• « 


Moore, Coleman. .. 

Moore, David. 

Morre, Thomas A 
Morriss, Joseph. .. 
Mosby, George... 
Mosby, Henry... . 
Murray, David... . 

Neal, John. 

Nelson, George... 
Newland, John. .. 
Oglesby, Wm. H. . 

Orris, John. 

Overton, John W. . 
Overton, Samuel E 
Palmer, Robert... 
Parker, Erwin.... 
Parrott, Robert... 
Partee, Chas. W.. 


.780 Edith 

.504 Wicks 

.Arcadian Hill 

.826 Lewis 

. Dupree 

.878 Florida 

. 682 S. Wellington 

.85 E. Trigg 

.R. 664 Sassafrass 
. . 6 Charleston Hill 
1092 S. Lauderdale 

.934 S. Third 

. .902 N. Claybrook 

.917 S. Fourth 

. Vaal 

.. .R. 227 Rayburn 

.371 Leath 

.. . Oak and Maple 


CHAS. PARTEE, 
Carpenter and Builder. 

Oak and Maple, Memphis, Tenn. 






Paty, Frank.475 Alston 

Pegues, Frank.426 Concord 

Perry, Arthur.258 Leath 




























































130 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Peters, Miles.Robeson 

Phillips, J. M.. .602 Exchange Extended 
Pierce, A. F. Binghamton 




f A. F. PIERCE, 

f Carpenter and Builder. 

1 Binghamton, Tenn. 

i f 


Mr. Pierce does not take a seat in the 
rear of any mechanic when substantial, 
first-class work is required. When oth¬ 
ers fail send for Mr. Pierce and he will 
do the rest. 


Pope, Robert.117 N. Belmont 

Powell, Jas.773 Speed 

Pryor, Alex.397 E. Butler 

Pursley, Wm. .Memphis Sash & Door Co. 

Randolph, A.354 S. Humphrey 

Raynor, B. F.625 Georgia 


r 

i 

I 

i 

i 


B. F. RAYNOR, I 

Carpenter and Builder. f 

All work guaranteed. i 

625 Georgia, Memphis, Tenn. | 


»|m O'* O-•••.«.. C" ••• »• • 


Mr. Raynor has shown himself to be 
a first-class mechanic. He has erected 
some very substantial buildings in Mem¬ 
phis and has given satisfaction. He is a 
patron of education, three of his chil¬ 
dren having graduated from the colored 
high school of this city. 


Richardson, Arthur.741 Concord 

Richmond, John.253 N. Dunlap 

| JOHN RICHMOND, j 

| Carpenter and Builder. | 

: 

i 253 N. Dunlap, Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

Mr. Richmond has few if any supe¬ 
riors along the line of his work. He 
seems to have a natural aptitude or gift 


for mastering every detail of the car¬ 
penter’s business. He is a well-informed, 
intelligent, up-to-date man, and an inter¬ 
esting companion. He has had great 
and varied experience and has gained 
much that is interesting and instruc¬ 
tive to young and old alike. 

Saddler, Louis.707 Polk 

Sanders, Richard.Oak 

Sanford, J. W.356 S. Wellington 


l J. W. SANFORD, 


• Contractor and Builder. f 

| Estimates Given. i 

? Residence. 356 S. Wellington St. ? 

• Phone: Old, 2569 Main. i 

I Memphis, Tenn. 1 

? ? 


For more than 20 years Mr. Sanford 
has been one of the leading contractors 
of Memphis, and has not only built up a 
substantial reputation in his business 
but he has gained a substantial fortune, 
and is now one of our wealthiest citi¬ 
zens. Some of the most elegant and 
most pretentious structures in the city 
are monuments to his fine ability as a 
master builder, and so extensive has 
been his work and so generally is he 
known as a contractor that it is unneces¬ 
sary to enumerate the number of great 
buildings that he has constructed. 

There is no part of the city in which 
there is not some substantial structure 
that he has built and likewise there is 
hardly a section of the city in which 
he has no property interests. Mr. San¬ 
ford is largely a self-made man, and 
is truly the architect of his own for¬ 
tune. He is a bright example of energy, 
hustle and brains, and has never failed to 
accomplish whatever he has attempted. 
There is no other colored man in the 
city that is more enterprising and ener¬ 
getic. He has great capacity for work 
and complete mastery of the details of 
the contracting business. He is one of 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


131 


the financial powers back of the Solvent 
Savings Bank of this city, and his name 
goes far toward giving to this institu¬ 
tion stability and financial prestige. He 
has large farming interests, both in 
Shelby county and in other counties of 
the state, and has valuable property in¬ 
terests in other states. No other young 
man in the community has thriven and 
amassed wealth more rapidly than Mr. 
Sanford, and no other citizen is more 
deserving of success. 

Scales, Chas. Humber 

Scott, Henry.998 Emmie 

Scott, Oliver.R. 604 Rayburn 

Scurlock, Robert.114 W. Virginia 


..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•■.•..•..•..•..•..•..•.••••••••.•••••..•..•..•..•.•I* 


t" 

f ROBERT SCURLOCK, 

Carpenter and Builder. 

i 114 W. Virginia Ave., 

| Memphis, Tenn. 


7 

i. 


Mr. Scurlock is a mechanic of the 
finest ability and is one of our oldest 
and best known citizens. His family 
has always been well connected with the 
social life of Memphis. 


Sharer, Michael.678 Penn 

Shields, Wm. Breedlove 

Shores, John.Charleston Hill 

Smith, John.771 S. Hobart 

Spencer, Isom..131 S. Fourth 

Spencer, Thomas. City stables 

Stephenson, M. D.358 Beale 


substantial reputation as a master 
builder. He is up in “G” as a contractor. 

Stewart, Sam.733 Williams 

Stone, Jesse.939 Olympic 

Strickland, S. M.355 S. Cynthia 




S. M. STRICKLAND, 
Carpenter and Builder. 

Phone: Memphis, 812. 
Residence: 355 S. Cynthia St. 


t 

i 


Memphis, Tenn. 


f 

1 


Taylor, J. L.351 Beale 

Taylor, Wm A.321 Decatur 

Thomas, Arthur....R. 263 N. Manassas 

Thomas, Grant.237 Gayoso 

lbomas, Jerry.R. 671 Phelan 

Thomas, Matthew. 190 Guthrie 

Thompson, Chas.17 N. Willett 

Tillman, Arthur.186 S. Waldrai 

Townsend, Joseph. Linden 

Trice, Moses.1333 Jackson 

Upshaw, Beniamin.S. Lauderdale 


1 BENJAMIN UPSHAW, 

§ • 
f Contractor and Builder. ? 

I South Lauderdale. i 

| Memphis, Tenn. 1 


The friends of Mr. Upshaw never tire 
when speaking of his ability as a first- 
class mechanic. He is one of the best. 
Vanhook, Henry.227 Sycamore 


M. D. STEPHENSON, I 

• • 

Contractor and Builder. 

f Residence: 962 S. Nesbit PI. f 

? Phone: 1839. | 

1 Office: 358 Beale Ave. i 

i Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 

Mr. Stephenson is a man big in stature 
and big in brain. He is one of the lead¬ 
ing contractors of Memphis and has a 


Vassar, Frank.626 Exchange 

Wainwright, George.1183 Carr 

Walker, Joseph. .Memphis Gas & Elec¬ 
tric Co. 

Walker, Joseph.Lilly Carriage Co. 

Walker, Lorenzo.674 Polk 

Waller, Winston.Lilly Carriage Co. 

Ward, Jerry.365 Driver 

Washington, George.338 Leath 

Webb, James.R. 467 Fifth 

Weber, David.9 N. Willett 

Wesley, John.R. 404 S. Second 





































132 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Wheeler, Charles.634 Wicks 

White, Jas. W.774 Olympic 

Williams, G. H.9 Chicago 


G. H. WILLIAMS, • 


Carpenter and Builder. ? 

9 Chicago, Memphis, Tenn. | 

* i 


4 


Mr. Williams is a first-class mechanic 
in its most comprehensive sense, and 
is able to do full justice to all the de¬ 
mands of his business. He has made 
an enduring reputation as a mechanic, 
and he never fails to come up to the 
highest standard. 


Williams, 0. W.690y 2 S. Orleans 


I 0. W. WILLIAMS, I 

• • 

f Contractor and Builder. 

| Phone: 744. | 

? 690% S. Orleans St. ? 

i Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 


Mr. Williams in the past few years 
has gained quite a reputation as a con¬ 
tractor and builder, and has several 
splendid buildings to testify to his skill 
and ability. He is an energetic, intelli¬ 
gent, and far-sighted business man and 
never sleeps on his opportunities. He 
is a versatile genius and can speak on 
politics and statesmanship as entertain¬ 
ingly as he can on the details of the 
contracting business. He is a spellbinder 
on political and other occasions of pub¬ 
lic moment, and is amply able to take 
care of his personal interests. He is 
prominently connected with the Masonic 
fraternity and as a citizen enjoys gen¬ 
eral respect and esteem. 


Willis, John... 
Wilson, Edward 

Wood, Mitchell 
Wood, Wm. . .. 
Woodruff, D. C. 


.43 Wellington 
595 S. St. John 

.351 N. Dunlap 
..1382 Johnson 
.699 Linden 


D. C. WOODRUFF, f 

f l 

Contractor and Builder. ; 

! i 

1 699 Linden, Memphis, Tenn. i 

i f 

*4* 

Mr. Woodruff may be called a good old- 
time carpenter. By this statement we 
mean that he is perfectly honest and 
reliable in the carrying out of every 
contract. All work done by him is hon¬ 
est work and up to the specifications. 
He is an old-time contractor because he 
doesn’t know anything about modern 
chicanery. He puts into his work the 
best lumber, the best workmanship, and 
the best brains, and consequently his 
work is of the most finished and durable 
character. No other contractor in Mem¬ 
phis has a better reputation for skillful, 
reliable and durable workmanship. He 
is a carpenter with a conscience, and 
he is in every respect conscientious in 
the performance of his duty. He is one 
of our most highly respected citizens. 
He has always been a patron of educa¬ 
tion and has provided for his family 
every educational advantage. The name 
of Woodruff is a very appropriate one 
for a carpenter, but does not indicate 
the character of his workmanship. 

Woodruff, Chas. H.E. Blakemore 

Woodruff, Walter R.699 Linden 

Woodson, B. F. Jr.666 Pontotoc 

Woodson, B. F., Sr.666 Pontotoc 




B. F. WOODSON, 
Contractor and Builder. 

All work guaranteed. 

666 Pontotoc, Memphis, Tenn. 




Mr. "Woodson, Sr., is a highly intelli¬ 
gent citizen and is one of the most skill¬ 
ful carpenters and builders in Memphis. 
He is a man of fine native ability and 
it is not surprising that such ability 
should seek an outlet with such satisfac¬ 
tory results in the carpenter’s trade. 
Mr. Woodson is all right in his business 
and the community knows it. 

% 

Yates, Edward R.814 Michigan 

Zinn, Edward. 1328 Barber 




















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


133 


Carpet Layers 


Armour, George.679 Pontotoc 

Bell, Harry .Rhodes-Haverty Co. 

Mr. Bell is one of the most skillful 
carpet men in Memphis. He is employed 
at one of the leading furniture houses 
of the city, and is one of its most re¬ 
liable workmen. 


Cash, M. D.945 N. Watkin 

I M. D. CASH, ! 

• • 

• Carpet Maker, Layer and Reno- • 

vator. ? 

• • 

? Work promptly and carefully f 
? done. Satsifactory results, 
i Call Him. I 

| 945 N. Watkin St., f 

• Memphis, Tenn. f 

Mr. Cash is a native of Raleigh, N. C., 
and a graduate of Shaw University of 
that state. He taught school for 15 
years. He is a pleasant, cultured, and 
polished gentleman and has a host of 
well wishers and friends. He is one of 
our most skillful carpet men and has 
a splendid patronage. 

Flakes, Taylor_R. 412 S. Wellington 

Gant, Henry T. J. Beasley Furniture Co. 

Gant, Hezekiah K.597 E. Bowdre 

Jones, Matthew. Unknown 

Jones, W. L.85 N. Second 


f 


a .. a .. a . 




W. L. JONES, 

Carpet layer, cleaner and Mak¬ 
er. All work guaranteed satisfac¬ 
tory. Public transfer. 

Phone: Cumberland 3286. 

85 N. Second St., 

Memphis, Tenn. 








Lyons, J. D.Gilchrist & Francis 

Nelson, John.245 N. Dunlap 


| JOHN NELSON, f 

? Carpet Layer and Upholsterer. $ 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. ? 

| Old Phone. 4215 Main. | 

i Memphis, Tenn. | 

t * 

^..*..*.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a .. a ., a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a „ a .. a .. a .^ 

Mr. Nelson is a carpet layer and up¬ 
holsterer of many years experience, and 
is one of the most competent artisans 
in the business. To employ him is to 
get the best workmanship and the most 
satisfactory results. He knows his busi¬ 
ness thoroughly and can not be sur¬ 
passed. He is an old acquaintance of the 
writer and is one of the best known ex¬ 
ponents of his trade. 

Phamphlet, Philip. .J. Beasley Furniture 
Co. 

Somerville, James. .Rosenbaum & Men¬ 
del. 

Tate, Humphrey C.. Benham Furniture 
Co. 

The name of Mr. Tate as a high- 
class carpet layer and upholsterer is a 
household word in the community and 
no other man is more generally and fa¬ 
vorably known. Fortunate is the firm 
that has his service. To the knowledge 
of the writer Mr. Tate has been con¬ 
nected with only two different firms in 
all the years of his experience as a 
master carpet man. He was connect¬ 
ed with Mr. Menken’s establishment un¬ 
til it went out of business, and will 
probably remain with the Benham Fur¬ 
niture Co. until he shuffles off this mor¬ 
tal coil. Such long service is a great 
compliment to Mr. Tate and shows 
that he is a very capable and reliable 
man. Mr. Tate is very prominent in the 
councils of the Odd Fellows, and a very 
capable and worthy representative of 
this fraternity. He is an energetic, in¬ 
telligent, up-to-date, public-spirited citi¬ 
zen, and enjoys the respect and esteem 
of all that know him. 

Williams, Ernest..T. J. Beasley Furni¬ 
ture Co. 

Williams, John.347 S. Third 

Williams, Oscar.242 N. Third 

Wilson, Wm.Graves & Watson 



















JACKSON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH 





MRS. FANNIE PURNELL 






















































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


135 


Cateresses 


Diffay, Dora D., Mrs.1273 Saxon 

Mrs. Diffay is an accomplished woman 
in many respects and among the many 
arts with which she is thoroughly fa¬ 
miliar is the art of cooking. She is an 
artistic cook in the fullest acceptation 
of the term, and her culinary efforts are 
models of elegance and palatableness. 
She is an experienced cateress and dec¬ 
orator and will no doubt be generally 
identified with the catering business in 
Memphis at no distant day. She is a 
charming woman with a most attractive 
personality, and to know her is to ap¬ 
preciate her many accomplishments to 
their fullest extent. 

Lee, E., Mrs.Jones, near Belt Line 

Mrs. Lee is a genius in the commissary 
department of the house. Into her own 
home there can never come any discord 
because her cooking is so artistic and 
palatable that the whole family is ai¬ 
rways in the very best humor. She is 
one of the best cateresses in the city 
and is in great demand in the exclusive 
circle where she is known. The writer 
generally overeats himself whenever he 
has the pleasure of sharing the hospi¬ 
tality of Mrs. Lee’s home. 


Purnell, Fannie, Mrs.695 S. Orleans 

I MRS. FANNIE PURNELL, ! 

f • 

| The Leading Cateress. ? 

I Memphis Phone: 1551 . 
i Cumberland Phone: 3502 . | 

l Weddings, luncheons, parties ? 

i and anything in the cateress’ line. | 

• Memphis, Tenn. | 

Mrs. Purnell is the leading cateress 
of the city of Memphis, and has suc¬ 
ceeded the late Mrs. Rebecca Green in 
that capacity. Mrs. Purnell can meet 
the demands for any occasion and even 
royalty would not disconcert her in the 
perfection of her art. Most of the swell 
occasions in the upper circles of Mem¬ 
phis society are looked after by her, and 
she enjoys a prestige in her profession 
second to none. She is the accomplished 
wife of Mr. H. C. Purnell, a prosperous 
merchant of this city. 

Taylor, Charlotte, Mrs.547 Dutro PI. 

Mrs. Taylor is an excellent cateress 
and may be depended upon to meet the 
demands of most any occasion. 


Cemeteries 


M’COY, LEVI. 

This cemetery is the property of that 
most enterprising and progressive citi¬ 
zen Mr. Levi McCoy, the popular un¬ 
dertaker. It is located about five miles 
south of Court Square, and has an 
area of five acres. In this beautiful 
City of the Dead about 300 souls are 
sleeping their last sleep. 


ZION CEMETERY. 

This is the oldest cemetery for col¬ 
ored people in Memphis, and is a mon¬ 
ument to the foresight and wisdom of 
the early citizens of Memphis in the 
days succeeding the Civil War. 











136 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Chauffeurs 


Andrews, Lee. Fader 

Baker, Harry.Wm. Goodbar 

Mr. Baker is one of the most expert 
gasoline machine manipulators in the 
city. 

Banks, Oliver.The Walshes 

Mr. Banks is a very expert steamer 
man. 

Bass, Jeff.Mrs. Coffin 

Blaine, Sherman.Gen. S. T. Carnes 

Mr. Blaine is one of the most expert 
chauffeurs in the business. 

Bradshaw, Wm.601 Georgia Ave. 

Davis, Walter.W. C. White 

Garrett, Chas.ex. Walshes & Crump 

Hadden, Samuel.Mr. Holliday 

Harris, Walter.Dr. Hunter 

Houston, Henry. Eaton 

Hurd, Marshall.D. W. Fly 

Hurd, Wm.Dr. Hunter 

Jackson, Jesse. .Jerome Parker Auto Co. 
Johnson, Dan. .Lilly Carriage Factory & 
Garage. 

Jones, Freddie. .Memphis Auto Company 


Master Jones is only a boy, but he has 
a man’s knowledge of the business of a 
chauffeur. He is a first class chauffeur 
and in his knowledge of electricity he is 
faithfully following in the footsteps of 
his father, who is one of the most ca¬ 
pable electricians in the city of Mem¬ 
phis. 

Kyle, Wm.Memphis Auto Co. 

Lann, Samuel A. L. Lowenstein 

Simpson, Henry.G. T. Fitghugh 

Stratton, Wm.P. P. Williams 

Mr. Stratton is an expert in the full¬ 
est application of the term, and is prob¬ 
ably the leading chauffeur of Memphis. 


Ward, Cham.Dr. Arrington 

Webster, Lee.A. S. Caldwell 


During the summer of 1908 Mr. Web¬ 
ster made the most extensive itinerary 
of any chauffeur in Memphis. He cov¬ 
ered a distance of 5,000 miles. 

Wheeler, Thos.J. W. Falls 

White, Will.Mrs. Boyd 

Williams, Will. .. .’.Collins & Butler 


Chefs 


Buchanan, Andrew .Cordova Hotel 

Mr. Buchanan is an artist in his busi¬ 

ness and meets every demand of a first- 
class, up-to-date hostelry. 

Hall, Thomas.Chickasaw Club 

Mr. Hall has a reputation second to 
none in the business he has followed so 
long and successfully. He is one of the 
best. 

Jackson, Sherman.Tennessee Club 

I Mr. Jackson is an authority in the 
business of preparing for the inner man 


and his cooking is of the most palatable 
character. No man bearing such a great 
military name could be otherwise than 
a first-class chef. 

Jacobs, Chas. Bismarck 

Mr. Jacobs is one of the leading chefs 
of Memphis, and is capable of giving 
perfect satisfaction under most exact¬ 
ing conditions. He knows his business 
from a to z. 

Joseph, George.Fransioli Hotel 

Mr. Joseph has made a national rep¬ 
utation as a high-class man in the culi- 






























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 137 

nary department. His duties as chef 
in one of the leading hotels in a great 
city require ability of the highest order, 
and he has all the ability that is needed. 

Phillips, Henry. .Baldwin, Knowlton & 

Lake’s. 

Mr. Phillips is a chef of fine ability 
and gives first-class service in a first- 
class place, patronized by some of the 
best citizens of Memphis. Personally 
he is as fine a man as he is a chef. He 
owns an elegant home on Kimbro st., in 
one of the swellest subdivisions for col¬ 
ored people in the city of Memphis and 
is a good neighbor. 

Schofield, Joseph. Waldorf 

Mr. Schofield is the popular chef of a 
very popular hostelry, and does his part 
toward maintaining the excellence of its 
cuisine. The name Schofield is one to 
be reckoned with, for it is too rare to 
ornament an ordinary man. 

Smith, George. Gerber’s 

Mr. Smith is one of the oldest and 
one of the most competent chefs cater¬ 
ing to the patronage of the citizens of 
Memphis. He is a master of every de¬ 
partment of the cooking art and is the 
peer of any one in the business. 

Steele, Chas. Floyd’s 

Mr. Steele is the prince of chefs or 
he would not hold such a responsible po¬ 
sition with such a famous house. The 
chef that can satisfactorily fill such a 
responsible position would measure up 
to the requirements of the White House. 

Step, Henry. Arlington 

Mr| Step fills one of the most respon¬ 
sible positions in the country, and does 
so with perfect satisfaction. He is an 
expert in all styles of cooking and serv¬ 
ice and gives satisfaction where many 
others would fail. So thorough is his 
knowledge that he can hardly rise a 
step higher in public estimation. 

Warren, Hal.James Sanitorium 

Mr. Warren is a chef of experience and 
ability and knows his profession thor¬ 
oughly. 



Winedexter, Robert. Gaston’s 

Mr. Winedexter is the right man in 
the right place notwithstanding the fact 
that the position he so ably fills is one 
of the most responsible in Memphis. The 
hotel in which he is chef is one of the 
leading hotels of America, and demands 

o ' , 

the very best professional ability that 
can be attained. Mr. Winedexter meas¬ 
ures up to every requirement of this 
famous hotel, and is one of the orna¬ 
ments of his profession. He can cook 
for every different nationality in the 
world, and do it well. He has been 
thrifty and has something to show for 
his many years of continuous and hon¬ 
orable employment. 

Young, Robert.Business Men’s Club 

Mr. Young is young in name, but old 
in the business of chef. He is a most 
capable gentleman and has his duties 
completely in hand. His work is so 
satisfactory in character that no one 
can improve upon it. He is both an 
artist and a master in his profession, 
and no one has a brighter future. 














138 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Chiropodists 


Casey, A. L.261 Rayburn 

Mr. Casey is a chiropodist of consid¬ 
erable experience and capable of doing 
satisfactory work. 

Level, S. A.458 Dunlap 

One of the most noted specialists in 
the South in the line of chiropody is Dr. 
S. A. Level, now of this city, but for¬ 
merly of Hot Springs, Ark. For many 
years he has conducted in Hot Springs 
the leading parlors in this business, and 
catered to the most exclusive class of 
patrons in that city. Dr. Level did not 
accidentally get into the profession of 
chiropody, but he gave it careful, sys¬ 
tematic, and conscientious study, and 
prepared himself for the greatest possi¬ 
ble success in it. He passed a rigid ex¬ 
amination in the state of New York and 


received a license to practice chiropody 
in that great state, which he did suc¬ 
cessfully for several months before re¬ 
turning South to practice his profes¬ 
sion. He has mastered this profession 
in its every detail. He has a patent for 
corns, and in its application he has 
scored great success. The Doctor has 
been a very successful man from both 
a professional and business standpoint. 
Professionally he has been for years at 
the head of chiropody, and as a business 
man he has not let the grass grow under 
his feet for lack of foresight and thrift; 
for he is one of the wealthiest real es¬ 
tate owners of Hot Springs, Ark. He is 
a polished, witty, up-to-date gentleman 
and a substantial acquisition to the cit¬ 
izenry of Memphis. 


Churches 


BAPTIST. 

Beale Avenue Baptist Church, 383 Beale 

Rev. T. Nightingale .Pastor 

Membership . 500 

Valuation of Church property. .$110,000 

Sunday School Students. 50 

Sunday School Officers and 

Teachers . 6 

Sunday School Supt. .. .Mrs. Lula Gross 
REV. T. NIGHTINGALE, SR. 

The subject of this sketch was born 
in Albemarle County, Va., but was 
reared in Richmond. Taking into con¬ 
sideration the conditions that prevailed 
in his early youth the distinguished sub¬ 
ject of this sketch enjoyed splendid ed¬ 
ucational advantages. He attended pri¬ 
vate schools in Ashville, Richmond, Mor¬ 
gantown and Memphis and finally round¬ 
ed off his academic education with 


courses in Roger Williams University 
and Central Tennessee College at Nash¬ 
ville, Tenn. At one time he thought 
that he would add to his many accom¬ 
plishments the study of medicine, and in 
pursuance thereof he attended Meharry 
Medical College for two years. But he 
felt that he was called to preach the 
gospel instead of practicing medicine, 
and consequently he did not quite com¬ 
plete his medical education. He began 
the ministry in 1866, and has enjoyed 
a degree of success that has fallen to 
the lot of very few ministers. He was 
pastor of his present charge when this 
great church was at the zenith of its 
power and influence, and did much to 
extend the same. He is one of the best 
equipped ministers in the country and 
thoroughly prepared himself for the suc¬ 
cessful performance of his ministerial 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


139 


duties. He studied theology at Roger 
Williams University and gained in it 
much of the power which has made him 
one of our most fluent and effective pul¬ 
pit orators. He has but recently re¬ 
turned to his present charge after an ab¬ 
sence of 16 or 17 years in the state of 
Oklahoma, where his success was but 
a repetition of what it had been else¬ 
where. The community welcomes his 
return to that historic old church on 
Beale avenue and believes that Provi¬ 
dence has called him back to finish in 
his old age the duties that were so aus¬ 
piciously begun in his earlier life. This 
church has already shown the magical 
effects of his presence, and is doing bet¬ 
ter than it has for years. 

Bethlehem Baptist Church... .756 Ayers 
Rev. A. L. Bartlett.Pastor 

Residence Decatur, near Jackson. 

Membership . 300 

Valuation of Church Property... $10,000 
Sunday School Membership .... 75 

Sunday School Officers and 

Teachers . 6 

Sunday School Supt., G. N. Williams. 

Working Organizations: 

Willing Workers Club, Mrs. Cora 
Woodard, Pres. 

Seven Star Club, H. Porterfield, Pres. 

REV. A. L. BARTLETT. 

This popular and influential pastor 
was born in the very shadow of the city 
of Memphis, anl near the little town 
whose name he bears—Bartlett, Tenn. 
He has been engaged in the gospel min¬ 
istry since 1884. He was ordained Oct. 
1, 1890. It has been his good fortune 
that he and the members of his present 
charge have dwelt in such Christian 
harmony that he has been in continual 
charge since his ordination—a period of 
over 18 years. It has not been consid¬ 
ered beneath his dignity for him to make 
preparation for his exalted calling, and 
consequently he has taken advantage of 
the theological instruction given at Howe 


Institute, and has been the better able 
to expound the Word. In addition to 
being the pastor of Bethlehem Church 
he is the beloved pastor of Little John 
Church, near Cuba, Tenn. He is presi¬ 
dent of the Ministerial Alliance of this 
city and also president of Friendship 
Sunday School Convention. His church 
is a member of the Friendship Baptist 
Association. Rev. Bartlett is a great 
power for good among the Baptists of 
Tennessee, and has done much to pro¬ 
mote their spiritual and material growth. 
His church is one of the leading local 
churches and a credit to the denomina¬ 
tion. He is a worthy Christian gentle¬ 
man of a broad and enduring sympathy 
and is destined to succeed in the future 
as he has always succeeded in the past. 

Bloomfield Baptist Church. .W. Virginia 

Rev. T. H. Holston.Pastor 

Cedar Grove Baptist Church. .Wallace & 
Long. 

Rev. Wm. Walton.Pastor 

Ebenezer Baptist Church. 112 Henry ave. 
Rev. R. T. Scott.Pastor 

Residence, 114 Henry Ave. 
Organized in 1882. 

Membership . 175 

Valuation of Church Property.. .$10,000 

Sunday School Membership. 75 

Number of Officers and Teachers 7 
Sunday School Supt., Mrs. Priscilla 
Williams. 

Working Organizations: 

Key Flower Club, Mrs. Fannie Sibley, 
Pres. 

Willing Workers’ Club, Mrs. Abbie Pow¬ 
ell, Pres. 

Morning Star Club, Mrs. Bettie Cren¬ 
shaw, Pres. 

REV. R. T. SCOTT. 

This well-known and highly respected 
minister was born in the state of Missis¬ 
sippi—a state highly productive of minis¬ 
terial talent. He entered the ministry 
in 1888 and has been pastor of Ebenezer 
Baptist Church for the past five years. 
He has not overlooked the necessity 
of preparing himself for his ministerial 










140 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


duties for he has embraced the oppor¬ 
tunity of taking special work in theology 
at Howe Institute under the able in¬ 
struction of the noted theologians of 
this great denominational school. In 
the five years of his connection with 
Ebenezer he has shown himself to be a 
good pastor and an able financier. In 
the first three years of his pastorate he 
paid off an incumbrance of $1,100 which 
he found awaiting his labors. In the 
five years of his pastorate he has col¬ 
lected nearly $6,000, built up the con¬ 
gregation, and erected a handsome 
church that is a credit not only to his 
section of the city but to the whole 
city of Memphis. He is a preacher that 
holds an honorable place in the confi¬ 
dence of his fellow ministers. His 
church is a member of the General As¬ 
sociation. He is secretary of the Min¬ 
isters’ Alliance, secretary of the Execu¬ 
tive Board of the General Association, 
and secretary of the Seven Church 
Union. He is also a trustee of Howe 
Institute. He is an earnest, faithful 
and capable laborer in the Master’s vine¬ 
yard, and at all times and on all oc¬ 
casions endeavors to do the best he can. 
First Missionary Baptist Church, 


495 St. Paul. 

Rev. T. 0. Fuller, A.M., Ph.D., Pastor 

Residence St. Paul Ave. 

Membership . 350 

Valuation of Church Property. .$17,000 

Sunday School Membership. 60 

Sunday School officers and teach¬ 
ers . 7 


Sunday School Supt, W. T. Livingston. 

Working Organizations: 
Industrial Club, Miss Lula J. Hobson, 
Pres. 

Harmony Club, Mrs. J. W. Thomas, 
Pres. 

Olive Branch Club, Mrs. Wright Moore, 
Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., John White, Jr., Pres. 

REV. T. 0. FULLER, A.M., Ph.D. 
Every race in order to reach its high¬ 
est possibilities must have intelligent 
and progressive leadership. A fountain 


cannot rise higher than its source, and 
this principle of philosophy may, figura¬ 
tively speaking, be applied to the for¬ 
tunes of every people. The Negro race 
of the whole country is fortunate in 
having such a worthy leader as Dr. Ful¬ 
ler. He is a man of good judgment,, 
prudence and fearless action in the right 
He is not a radical or extremist in any 
respect but on the contrary his mind 
leads toward conservatism and tolera¬ 
tion of other people’s opinions besides 
his own. The peculiar conditions af¬ 
fecting the races in the South require 
men that are anxious to promote the 
spirit of harmony, peace and good will 
between the two races. Providence 
seemingly has decreed that the Negro 
race must continue to live in this South¬ 
land, and this being the case, it behooves 
every man that is anxious for the wel¬ 
fare of his race to make the most of 
the conditions that surround him. A 
prudent, sensible man can live and pros¬ 
per anywhere in this country and no 
other section of this country presents 
greater opportunities and possibilities 
for the Negro race than the South. Dr. 
Fuller seems to have realized this fact 
in early life and bent all the energies 
of his powerful mind in the ceaseless 
effort to give an exposition of this fact 
to the world. The doctrine of peace 
and good will toward all mankind is 
the fundamental principle of Holy Writ 
and it is thus befitting that a minister 
of the gospel should take the lead in 
advancing it and preaching it for the wel¬ 
fare of humanity. Next to Dr. Booker 
Washington Dr. T. O. Fuller is the 
leading apostle of peace among the col¬ 
ored leaders of the South, and he has 
an influence with the good people of 
both races that is second to no other 
colored man. 

This distinguished and eminent edu¬ 
cator, orator and divine is a product of 
the Old North State, and the buoyancy 
of his nature and the towering charac- 





TIIE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


141 


ter of his mind seem to have been 
given him by the lofty mountains of his 
native State. He is one of the best 
educated men in America. He is an 
alumnus of the classical department of 
Shaw University and a favorite son of 
this famous institution of learning. He 
received his A.M. degree in 1893, three 
years after his graduation, and his de¬ 
gree of Ph. D. in 1906. He was promi¬ 
nently connected with political life in 
his native State and was honored by his 
constituents with a seat in the Senate 
of the State of North Carolina, which 
lie filled for two years. In the legisla¬ 
tive reports of the session during which 
he was a member of the Senate many 
compliments were bestowed upon him 
by all classes because of his extraordi¬ 
nary powers as an orator. He filled this 
high position with great credit, and 
demonstrated the intellectual and moral 
powers of the Negro when he has been 
fortunate enough to enjoy good educa¬ 
tional advantages. 

He began the ministry in 1887 and in 
it he has been an unqualified success. 
Since taking charge* of the First Mis¬ 
sionary Baptist Church of this city he 
has built up the congregation to large 
proportions, paid off church debts and 
erected a handsome church edifice. He 
is a pulpit orator without a superior 
and a man gifted to an extraordinary 
degree. 

First Baptist Church 4th and Sycamore 


Rev. W. H. Heard .Pastor 

Residence, 537 Leatli 

Membership . 1,000 

Valuation of Church property.. .$20,000 
Sunday School Membership. 150 

Sunday School Officers and Teach¬ 
ers . 10 


Sunday School Supt., H. Hinton. 

Working Organizations: 

Willing Workers Club, Miss Lillie Jones, 
President. 

Company B, D. Hammond, Pres. 
^Company C ; H, Keely, Pres, 


Company D, J. W. Watson, Pres. 
Company E, William Brown, Pres. 
Company F. Wm. Stiggers, Pres. 

REV. W. H. HEARD. 

This well-known and handsome minis¬ 
ter was born in the State of Mississippi 
just as were most of his associates in 
the gospel ministry. He has been an 
active force for good since he began the 
ministry, in 1892, and no other pastor 
in Memphis is more highly regarded and 



more dearly loved. He has been pastor 
of the First Baptist chqrch of North 
Memphis since 1897 and has wrought 
wonders for his church. His member¬ 
ship under his spiritual guidance has 
increased until it is one of the largest 
in the State, and the responsibilities of 
his position have increased in like pro¬ 
portion. He is endowed by nature with 
a bright mind that is capable of turn¬ 
ing every condition to advantage. His 
sermons are models of good, hard com¬ 
mon sense and exhibit a thorough knowl¬ 
edge of the Scriptures. They sparkle 
with wit and logic and are convincing 
to the simplest mind. He received his 
theological training at Howe Institute 
and has for this reason been given 
greater power for usefulness. For eight 









142 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


years he has been Moderator of the 
General Association of Baptist Churches 
and has discharged his duties with such 
signal ability that he has been repeat¬ 
edly named to succeed himself. He is 
vice-president of the Baptist State Con¬ 
vention. He is also a member of the 
Finance Committee of the National 
Baptist Convention. While he has been 
a power in church circles in Tennessee 
he has not neglected the material affairs 
of life. In his getting he has gotten 
both understanding and money. He is 
a practical Christian and does not be¬ 
lieve that the ownership of some of the 
goods of this world will shut him out 
of the kingdom to come. He has an 
elegant home at 537 Leath street, in a 
very desirable section of the city and 
his appearance and general prosperity 
indicate that he is in daily receipt of 
the Master’s blessings. He is First Vice- 
President of the Pythian Bank and 
Trust Company of this city, and a citi¬ 
zen that is universally respected and 
honored. 

Gilfield Baptist Church. .32 E. Va. Ave. 


Rev. J. W. Ribbins.Pastor 

Residence Silver Age Ave. 
Organized in 1879. 

Membership . 600 

Valuation of Church Property. .$15,000 

Sunday School Membership. 40 

Sunday School officers and teach¬ 
ers . 6 


Sunday School Supt, Wm. Crooms. 

Working Organizations: 

Gilfield Working Club, Mrs. Jane Falk, 
Pres. 

Busy Bee Club, Mrs. L. V. Curry, Pres. 
The Willing Club, Mrs. Jenette Morris, 
Pres. 

Church Organist, Mrs. Alice Taylor. 
REV. J. W. RIBBINS. 

The worthy and talented pastor of 
Gilfield Baptist Church is Rev. J. W. 
Ribbins, who has been engaged in the 
gospel ministry since 1901. He is a 
native of the Old Volunteer State, and 
consequently cannot lay claim to the 
nativity that most of his fellow minis¬ 
ters can. The greater part of his life 
has been spent in the teachers’ profes¬ 
sion, and the good that he has done in 


it cannot be estimated. His rule of life 
has been to do his whole duty in every 
capacity, and it is the belief of his 
friends that he has faithfully done so. 
He has been connected with the schools 
of Shelby county for eleven years and 
ranks first among the teachers in effi¬ 
ciency and faithful performance of duty. 
His literary training was largely ac¬ 
quired at LeMoyne Institute, but he 
added greatly to this by his own dili¬ 
gent and faithful study. His prepara¬ 
tion for the ministry has been syste¬ 
matic and thorough. He has carefully 
studied and assimilated Pendleton’s 
Compendium of Theology, a valuable 
work for ministers of the gospel. He 
is yet a very young man and as God 
unfolds to him the mysteries of divine 
truth and gives to him understanding 
and knowledge he will have literally a 
tongue of fire with which to expound the 
Word. He is already a gifted preacher 
and one of the best in Memphis, and 
with additional training and experience 
he’ll become one of the greatest in the 
land. He has been at his present charge 
but a few months, yet there is thus 
early the great reviving of this glorious 
old church and the outlook under his 
forceful and able leadership is favorable 
for this great church’s recovering its 
lost ground and again becoming in the 
future, as it was in the past, one of the 
leading churches of Memphis. 

Golden Leaf Baptist Church. .. .Neptune 

Rev. J. J. Broach .Pastor 

Gospel Temple .N. Manassas 

Rev. F. T. Thomas .Pastor 

Jackson Ave. Baptist Church, 565 Auc¬ 
tion. 

Rev. B. R. Bell, .Pastor 

Residence 553 Leath St. 
Organized in 1900. 

Membership . 45Q 

Valuation of Church Property.. .$18,OOfi 
Sunday School Membership .... 52 

S. S. Officers and Teachers .... fi 
Sunday School Supt., Mrs. Sarah Young. 

Working Organizations: 

Old People’s Club, Miss Bettie Graham, 
Pres. 

Young Peoples’ Club, Miss Hattie Payne* 
Pres. 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


143 


REV. B. R. BELL. 

The subject of this sketch was born 
in the beautiful State of Alabama. For 
thirty years he has been laboring in 
the Master’s vineyard, and the good that 
he has done is inestimable. Before com¬ 
ing to Memphis to locate he was a resi¬ 
dent of Vicksburg, Miss., where he was 
very successful in his ministerial labors. 
For, in that city alone, he built three 
churches and in the surrounding coun¬ 
try he built one or two others. He has 
made a great reputation as a financial 
worker and has achieved one of his 
greatest successes in the beautiful 
church edifice in which he is now hold¬ 
ing forth on Auction avenue. He is con¬ 
nected with journalism and is editor of 
the Memphis Baptist Herald, one of the 
leading organs of the Baptist denomina¬ 
tion. In many respects Rev. Bell is a 
remarkable man. He has grit, persist¬ 
ence and undying determination to suc¬ 
ceed. He has made his own way and 
is regarded in every respect as a suc¬ 
cessful man and a worthy minister. He 
is the father of Dr. G. P. Bell, one of 
our leading dentists, and in this son 
Rev. Bell has a worthy reproduction of 
himself in every respect. 


Lebanon Baptist Church . .. .735 Florida 
Rev. R. J. Petty .Pastor 

Residence 735 Florida. 

Membership . 300 

Valuation of Church Property... $7,000 
Sunday School Membership .... 60 

S. S. Officers and Teachers. 8 

Sunday School Supt., M. Allen. 

Working Organizations: 


Women’s Working Club, Mrs. Matilda 
Terrell, Pres. 

Mission Society, Mrs. Alice Phillips, 
Pres. 

Mission Sunshine Band, Mrs. Hannah 
Griggs, Pres. 

Young Peoples’ Social and Literary Club, 
Mrs. Irene McNewsom, Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., Moses Caldwell, Pres. 

REV. R. J. PETTY. 

It has been a principle of Rev. Petty’s 
life never to take a second position in 
any worthy cause when the first position 
was available; and this trait in his 


character is shown in his choice of a 
place for his nativity, for he, like all 
the other great preachers of Memphis, 
with few exceptions, was born in the 
State of Mississippi. Though a native 
of that State a great part of his life 
has been spent in the State of Arkansas, 
where he still has great real estate and 
business interests. In fact, he is as 
prominent in financial and business cir¬ 
cles as he is in the gospel ministry. In 
early life he did not enjoy the splendid 
educational advantages that the youth 
of today enjoy, but he was nevertheless 
ambitious to learn and took advantage 
of every opportunity to strengthen his 



REV. R. J. PETTY 

mind. He attended LeMoyne Normal 
Institute and other private schools in 
Memphis. The author had the pleasure 
of attending with Rev. Petty the splen¬ 
did private school that was conducted 
at Beale Avenue Church by that great 
educator and extraordinary man, Rev. 
R. N. Countee, over a quarter of a cen¬ 
tury ago. Rev. Petty began work in 
the ministry in 1875, and is thus one 
of the trained veterans in the ministerial 
calling. He has been very successful in 
the ministry and has accomplished un¬ 
told good. He is Vice-President of Ed¬ 
ward L. Simon & Co.’s printing establish¬ 
ment. He is also President of the Ed- 
mundson Home and Improvement Com¬ 
pany, of Edmundson, Ark., which is com¬ 
posed of the wealthiest and most promi- 
ment colored citizens of that section. 
This company has for its object the de¬ 
velopment and improvement of that vast 
section around Edmoundson, Ark., that 





144 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


is owned by the colored people. He is 
a live, progressive race man, and is 
never so interested as when he is pro¬ 
moting some worthy race enterprise. He 
is a safe, conservative leader of his peo¬ 
ple and enjoys a degree of confidence on 
the part of both races that few colored 
men enjoy. The word “Petty” means 
“small,” bnt in this instance it means 
a mighty big man. 

Macedonia Baptist Church..644 Walker 
Rev. D. L. Davis.Pastor 

Residence 735 Williams Ave. 

Membership . 600 

Valuation of Church Property. .$15,000 
Sunday School Membership .... 112 

S. S. Officers and Teachers. 10 

Sunday School Supt., Mrs. M. L. Davis. 

Working Organizations: 

Roosevelt Club No. 1, Mrs. Perry, Pres. 
Davis Club No. 2, Mrs. Friarson, Pres. 
Deacon’s Club No. 3, J. McDonald, Pres. 
Church Club No. 4, John Arnold, Pres. 

REV. D. L. DAVIS. 

The famous Blue Grass State has done 
the State of Tennessee a great service 
in giving to it one of Kentucky’s native 
sons in the person of the reverend gentle¬ 
man whose name is at the head of this 
sketch. He has been engaged in the 
ministry since 1894 and has served in 
Shelbyville, Tenn., Chattanooga and 
Memphis. He has had wonderful suc¬ 
cess in the financial department of 
church work. While in Chattanooga he 
paid off a church debt of several thou¬ 
sand dollars and added 300 members to 
the church. He has served his present 
charge for ten years, and has shown 
himself to be a minister of great influ¬ 
ence and power. Under his guidance 
Macedonia Church lias become one of 
the leading churches of Memphis. Over 
two hundred members have been added 
to this church during his pastorate. His 
great financial ability has enabled them 
to erect a handsome church edifice in 
which all take great pride. He is re¬ 


garded with great favor by his fellow- 
ministers and has been honored by them 
with the position of Moderator of River¬ 
side Baptist Association. He has been 
a successful man not only in the min¬ 
istry, but in the material affairs of life. 
He has a nice residence on Williams ave¬ 
nue in this city and is regarded by all 
as a worthy and substantial citizen. 
His estimable wife is of great service 
to him in his ministerial duties and is a 
talented and useful woman. 

Metropolitan Baptist Church..206 Vance 


Rev. T. J. Searcy.Pastor 

Residence 385 St. Cynthia PI. 

Membership . 650 

Valuation of Church Property.. .$20,000 
Sunday School Membersh. ip... . 125 

S. S. Officers and Teachers. 12 


Sunday School Supt., Win. Lane. 

Working Organizations: 

White Ribbon Circle, Henry Porter, Pres. 
Deborah Circle, Mrs. Addie Isabel, Pres. 

Lily of the Valley Club, Mrs. Mary 
Moore, Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., A. T. Geter, Pres. 

REV. T. J. SEARCY. 

It is the good fortune of some men 
to be known, appreciated, esteemed and 
loved by everybody. Some men possess 
personal traits and qualities that at¬ 
tract all others to them. Some of the 
learned writers call this quality personal 
magnetism. By whatever name this 
quality may be known we are certain of 
the fact that Rev. T. J. Searcy possesses 
it to a remarkable degree. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Rutherford 
county, Tenn., November 4, 1852. In 
giving this date the author makes a 
radical departure; for he has not up 
to this time in his various narratives 
written the date of birth of any other 
minister and the reason why the author 
does so in this particular instance is 
that this popular minister takes such 
great pride in his age that seemingly he 
wants the whole world to know it. Many 








THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS 


145 



REV. T. J. SEARCY 


a time in his discourses to his congre¬ 
gation he has referred to the fact that 
he was born a slave and has laughed 
because of his inability nowadays to 
find many others that have had a simi¬ 
lar experience. To him it seems no 
disgrace to have been born a slave, but 
rather a distinction for him to have be¬ 
come such a prominent man in spite of 
such humble origin. Coming along in 
the times that he did and being a boy 


on the farm, he did not enjoy the great 
opportunities of learning that are with¬ 
out stint given to the youth of today. 
He had to get a catch-as-catch-can educa¬ 
tion, and this mode of acquiring an edu¬ 
cation has been so deeply instilled in his 
nature that he has been ever since catch¬ 
ing at every opportunity for self-im¬ 
provement that he could. He is a cease¬ 
less student and tireless worker and is 
just as ambitious today to acquire 












146 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


knowledge and power emanating from 
it as he was when a mere youth. 

In addition to the minor advantages 
of school training that he enjoyed in 
his home county he attended Roger Wil¬ 
liams University, Nashville, Tenn., and 
there he added to his inspiration and 
ambition to become a great and useful 
man. He has always desired to be a 
great man but he has desired more to 
be a useful man, a man that would be 
a perfect instrument in the hands of 
the Master for service to his people. 
He was ordained May 7, 1883, and has 
for a generation ministered to the spirit¬ 
ual needs of the people of Memphis. 
No other minister in the state of Ten¬ 
nessee stands higher than he in the 
councils of the Baptist denomination, 
and no one has received greater honors. 
Roger Williams University conferred 
upon him the title of Doctor of Divinity 
as a faint testimonial of its apprecia¬ 
tion of his great ability. Dr. Searcy is 
a man endowed to a remarkable degree 
with common sense and good judgment. 
He is a natural born philosopher that 
knows humanity from every possible 
standpoint, and how to deal with it in 
order to gain the best results. He is a 
student of human nature and what he 
cannot accomplish in his dealings with 
his fellow-men very few people are ca¬ 
pable of accomplishing. In this com¬ 
munity he has always filled a unique 
position in respect to the interests and 
welfare of the two races. He has been 
a promoter of peace and good will be¬ 
tween the races. He has been indefatig¬ 
able in his efforts to do good, wise in 
counsel and conservative in action. When 
any great crisis in the affairs of his 
race arises the responsibility of its ad¬ 
justment falls upon his willing shoul¬ 
ders, and he has never failed to bring 
matters to a reasonable and satisfac¬ 
tory conclusion. If the Creator had 
made him a member of the Caucasian 
race he would have been one of the great¬ 


est diplomats of empire or republic. He 
could have graced the court of St. James 
with the same equanimity that he graces 
his pulpit and the results would have 
been as satisfactory. 

He is a man of great versatility. He 
is a wit of unusual ability and his happy 
and appropriate sallies can convulse an 
audience at will. He is an orator that 
can do justice to any occasion, and his 
services in various capacities are in great 
demand. Whether in the domain of 
education, politics, or religion, he is 
equally ready for service. As a preacher 
he has a following second to none in 
Memphis. His sermons are the masterly 
efforts of a master mind and show him 
to be the real philosopher that he is. 
His church on Vance avenue is one of the 
most substantial, elegant, and up-to-date 
church edifices in Memphis, and is a 
monument to his indefatigable labors. 
Among his many honors he is chairman 
of the Educational Board of the Na¬ 
tional Baptist Convention. He holds 
many other honors both in this city and 
state which it is not necessary to men¬ 
tion, but greater than any of these is 
the hold he has in the esteem and af¬ 
fections of his people. He has one of 
the nicest residences in the city of Mem¬ 
phis, located in the most fashionable 
section of Memphis. His devoted wife 
is a cultured, refined and useful woman, 
and has done much to make her hus¬ 
band’s ministry a success. 

Middle Baptist Church. .465 Alabama St. 
Rev. Wm. Winfield.Pastor 

Home residence, Brownsville, Tenn. 

City residence, 303 Dunlap St. 

Organized .1866 

Membership . 200 

Valuation of church property... .$15,000 

Sunday School membership. 100 

Sunday School officers & teachers 11 
Sunday School Supt., H. Green. 

Working Organizations: 

White Ribbon Club, Rev. Wm. Winfield, 

Pres. 





THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


147 


Blue Ribbon Club, No. 10, Miss E. G. 

Green, Pres. 

Cresco Club, Eddie Green, Pres. 

Busy Bee Club, H. Green, Pres. 

Club of Dan, No. 8, W. H. Wallace, Pres. 
Club No. 6, Wm. Pryor, Pres. 

Club No. 4, Robert Turner, Pres. 

REV. WM. WINFIELD. 

There is much that is true in the law 
of heredity. Not only do we inherit the 
physical qualities of our parents, but 
we inherit their mental, moral, and spir¬ 
itual attributes. Such seems to be il¬ 
lustrated in the life of Rev. Winfield, 
of Middle Baptist Church, for he is a 
faithful reproduction of his sainted 
father, Rev. Martin Winfield, who was 
one of the great preachers of a genera¬ 
tion ago. The reverend subject of this 
sketch was born at Brownsville, Tenn., 
where he still resides. Though compara¬ 
tively a young man in age he is old in 
ministerial service, having entered the 
ministry in 1888. He was ordained in 
1892. 

A great part of his life was spent in 
the teacher’s profession and extended 
over a period of ten years. He showed 
the same earnest spirit in the teacher’s 
profession which characterizes him as a 
minister of the Gospel. He was educat¬ 
ed in the Brownsville High School and 
Roger Williams University, and his 
every action is indicative of a broad and 
cultured mind. His theological training 
has not been neglected. Each year has 
but added to his preparation for his 
great life work. He pursued a theologi¬ 
cal course under Dr. Traver at Howe 
Institute, and has supplemented this 
course by constant and systematic study 
of the holy word. He has been pastor 
of Middle Baptist Church for six years 
and has proved himself to be the right 
man in the right place. That he is an 
able financier may be seen by the re¬ 
sults of his labors. His church has 
been renovated and improved until both 
its interior and exterior are models of 


elegance and beauty. His church affil¬ 
iates with the West Tennessee Baptist 
Association, of which he is treasurer. 
He is a member of the Board of Incor¬ 
porators of Howe Institute. He is a 
modest, quiet, unpretentious minister of 
the Gospel bent upon doing the business 
of the Great Teacher. He has well suc¬ 
ceeded thus far and under God’s provi¬ 
dence he will be destined to achieve even 
greater results. 

Morning Star Baptist Church, 207 Linden 

Rev. C. W. Graham.Pastor 

Membership .175 

Sunday School membership. 40 

Sunday School officers & teachers... 3 

Sunday School Supt., Miss V. A. Haynes 

Working Organizations: 

Woman’s Christian Mission, Miss Anna 
Fields, Pres. 

Young People’s Club, Miss Lucile Scott, 
Pres. 

Pastor’s Committee, A. Fields, Pres. 

REV. C. W. GRAHAM. 

The subject of this sketch is little in 
size but big in ambition. He has been 
an active, progressive force among the 
ministers of Memphis and has impressed 
his personality on all. He has done 
much for his people, and has shown him¬ 
self to be a prudent and conservative 
leader. 

Morning View Baptist Church.. Lauder¬ 


dale and Essex. 

Rev. J. L. Lewis.Pastor 

Residence, 701 Polk Ave. 

Membership . 55 

Valuation of church property.$1,000 

Sunday School membership. 25 


Sunday School officers & teachers . 6 

Sunday School Supt., James R. Lee. 

Working Organizations: 

Willing Workers Club, Mrs. Florida 
Scales, Pres. 

Busy Bee Club, Mrs. Alice Shaw, Pres. 








148 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


REV. J. L. LEWIS. 

This quiet, gentlemanly and well- 
known minister first opened liis eyes in 
the state of Missisippi. He enjoyed 
very good educational advantages and 
attended the State Normal School of 
Mississippi, when it was at its zenith. 
Ambitious to do something for his peo¬ 
ple, as soon as he was qualified to do 
so, he entered the teacher’s profession 
and continued in it seven years. But 
it was not his inclination to continue 
in that profession, because he felt that 
he was called to expound God’s holy 
word. He began the ministry in 1893 
and has held some responsible charges 
in which number may be named Beale 
Avenue Baptist Church—the mother 
church of the Baptist denomination. He 
is connected with both the Riverside 
Baptist Association and the General Bap¬ 
tist Association. He is a worthy minis¬ 
ter and a good citizen. 

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church..565 Suzette 


Rev. W. W. Whitton .Pastor 

Residence, 9 Lumpkin. 

Membership . 120 

Valuation of church property... .$,6000 
Sunday School membership. 40 


Sunday School officers & teachers 4 
Sunday School Supt., Mr. Phillips. 

Working Organizations: 

Willing Workers Club, Mrs. Lucy Mitch¬ 
ell, Pres. 

Morning Star Club, Mrs. Wheeler, Pres. 

REV. W. W. WHITTON. 

This well-known and able pastor is a 
native of Louisiana. He was ordained 
in the gospel ministry in 1886 and has 
pastored in Memphis for the past twelve 
years. His preparation for the minis¬ 
try was thorough. His studies were pur¬ 
sued unler Dr. Broaddus, of Grenada, 
Miss., one of the ablest theologians and 
divines in America. Rev. Whitton has 
had long experience in the pastorate. 
Before coming to Memphis he filled with 
credit some of the most prominent 


charges in the state of Mississippi. He 
pastored churches at Refuge, Rolling 
Fork, Mound Bayou, and other towns in 
that State. In the city of Memphis alone 
he has baptized and received into the 
church over 500 souls. While in Missis¬ 
sippi he was president of the largest 
Baptist Association in the state. This 
association had 144 churches. He is 
chairman of the executive board of 
Natchez College, and vice-president of 
the National Baptist Convention. At 
the last session of this great convention 
at Lexington, Ky., he had the honor of 
presiding over this distinguished body 
for one-half day, or until the re-election 
of Dr. Morris. 

Rev. Whitton is an able preacher and 
a live, up-to-date citizen. He believes 
in education and religion, and that both 
of these are necessary for the solution 
of the great race problem. 

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church... .Buntyn 


Station. 

Rev. W. H. Heard.Pastor 

Residence, 537 Leath. 

Membership . 380 

Valuation of church property... .$6,000 

Sunday School membership. 125 

Sunday School officers & teachers 7 


Sunday School Supt., Clias. Washington 

Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, 630 S. Somer¬ 
ville. 

Rev. Isaac Cotton.Pastor 

Residence, Germantown, Tenn. 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 857 Jefferson 

Rev. J. J. Totten. Pastor 

Residence, 203 Beale Ave. 

Membership . 200 

Valuation of church property... .$3,500 

Sunday School membership. 30 

Sunday School officers & teachers 6 
Sunday School Supt., L. E. Harrison. 

REV. J. J. TOTTEN. 

Nature seems to have done its best 
when it created the distinguished look¬ 
ing subject of this sketch. Of course, 
he was born,in Missisippi, for only the 












THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


149 


soil and climate of this great state can 
produce such a noble specimen of phys¬ 
ical manhood. He is a man of splendid 
education and superior ability. He grad¬ 
uated from the famous State Normal 
School, which was located at Holly 
Springs. He taught school only one 
session. He took a theological course 
under Dr. Ayers at Jackson Baptist Col¬ 
lege, and was well trained for success 
in the ministry in whose work he was 
first engaged in 1887. For many years 
he has been prominently identified with 
the fraternities and at one time was 
deputy grand master of the United 
Brothers of Friendship. 

He is superintendent of Foreign Mis¬ 
sions for the state of Mississippi. He 
is a member of the Foreign Board of 
fifty elected to go to Scotland to the 
international meeting of the Foreign 
Mission Bdard. This is an honor of un¬ 
usual importance and a timely recogni¬ 
tion of his splendid ability. He is con¬ 
nected with both the Riverside Baptist 
Association and the West Tensessee Bap¬ 
tist Association. His connection with 
his present charge is but recent; yet, 
there has been already manifested on 
the part of his members increased in¬ 
terest in the affairs of the church, and 
this interest will result in great spirit¬ 
ual benefit to all concerned. 

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. .Maulden 

Rev. A. Gillespie.Pastor 

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. .Wellington 

Rev. C. H. Hayes.Pastor 

Mt. Zion Baptist Church.S. Main 

Rev. M. H. House.Pastor 

New Prospect Baptist Church.. 132 E. 

Butler. 

Rev. N. S. Sanders.Pastor 

Residence, 23 N. Lumpkin. 

Organized . 1896 

Membership . 1,000 

Valuation of church property.. .$40,000 

Sunday School membership. 100 

Sunday Schol teachers & officers 10 
Sunday School Supt., S. C. Coleman. 


REV. N. S. SANDERS. 

Of course this popular gospel minister 
was born in the state of Mississippi, 
just as most of the others. In these 
days there is much of a criticizing na¬ 
ture said concerning the state of Mis- 
sippi, but when we think calmly and 
dispassionately the great state of Mis¬ 
sissippi has done wonders for the negro 
race. If the conditions in that state 
are so hostile to the interests and wel¬ 
fare of the race it is strange that the 
race should thrive so well and even 
prosper in that state. It is probable 
that such experience as the colored peo¬ 
ple have in Missisippi is just what is 
needed to drive them together into a 
united body. 

Rev. Sanders began the ministry in 
1892. He has been pastor of New Pros¬ 
pect Baptist Church since 1896, and 
in this capacity he has wrought wonders 
for his church. It is one of the largest 
and most attractive churches in Mem¬ 
phis. Its active membership is proba¬ 
bly the largest in Memphis, and this 
single fact gives but a faint idea of 
his success among his people and their 
unqualified confidence in him. He is 
not only a splendid pastor but he is a 
great financier, and the substantial edi¬ 
fice over which he presides is evidence 
of this fact. 

He has a splendid theological library 
and has given to this library systematic 
study and effort. He is a magnetic 
preacher and has the most persistent 
and enthusiastic following of any of the 
local preachers. His influence with his 
people is wonderful and no other man 
can supplant him in their affections. He 
is a man of becoming appearance and 
attractive personality and numbers a 
host of people among his friends. His 
church is a member of the Riverside Bap¬ 
tist Association of which he is treas¬ 
urer. 










150 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


New Salem Baptist Church, 957 S. Third 
Rev. J. F. Bradshaw.Pastor 

In the year of 1860, at the very be¬ 
ginning of the civil conflict which del¬ 
uged this nation in blood, the life of 
the subject of this sketch was ushered 
into existence. Bereaved at an early 
age by the death of his father, and 
having to brave the battles of life with 
eight other brothers and sisters in the 
same condition, his past life was not 
strewn with flowers. It was beset with 
many sacrifices, self-denials, hardships 
and difficulties. His educational, ad¬ 
vantages were poor and he might not 
have had any at all if it had not been 
for his great determination to be some¬ 
thing in life. He took advantage of 
night schol and private instruction to 
strengthen his mind, and in many re¬ 
spects he has succeeded in life far be¬ 
yond what many others with greater op¬ 
portunities have done. He began the 
ministry in 1886 and has for years been 
an effective servant in the gospel min¬ 
istry. 

Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, N. Sec¬ 
ond and Looney. 

Rev. D. B. Cleveland.Pastor 

Residence, 654 N. Second. 

Membership . 305 

Valuation of church property.. .$20,000 
Sunday School membership.... 100 
Sunday School officers & teachers 9 
Sunday School Supt., G. C. Claiborne. 

Working Organizations: 

Willing Workers Club, Mrs. Annie Phil¬ 
lips, Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., Mr. Clay, Pres. 

REV. D. B. CLEVELAND. 

The splendid physical proportions of 
the subject of this sketch are very much 
suggestive of those of his distinguished 
fellow namesake, the lamented ex-Presi- 
dent of the United States, Hon. Grover 
Cleveland, and his intellectual power is 
strongly in the same direction. Con¬ 
trary to the usual order of things he 


is a native of the state of Arkansas; but 
this fact seems to have preyed so heav¬ 
ily on his mind in early youth that he 
was compelled to cross over into Missis¬ 
sippi, where he passed the greater part 
of his life, and from which state he came 
directly to Memphis to fill the pastorate 
of his present charge. Rev. Cleveland 
is a veteran in the gospel ministry, hav¬ 
ing begun to preach in 1876. The fact 
that he ranks with the best preachers 
in the land is due to his careful and 
thorough preparation for the ministry. 
In addition to an extensive reading of 
systematic theology by himself alone, 
he took a course of training at Wilber- 
force Theological Seminary. He has 
served the welfare of his race in more 
than one capacity. For sixteen years he 
labored with great success in the teach¬ 
er’s profession and made for himself a 
reputation for ability not less than he 
has gained in the gospel ministry. For 
two years of that time he was President 
of Broom’s Institute, Talulah, La., and 
in this capacity he showed executive and 
administrative ability of the highest or¬ 
der. For five years he was editor of 
the Saturday Times of Hollandale, Miss., 
the organ of the Baptist Association of 
Washington County, and a journal of 
vast circulation and wide influence, not 
only among the people of that section 
but among the people of the whole state. 
He is a trustee of Natchez College—a 
leading denominational school of Missis¬ 
sippi, and a member of the state conven¬ 
tion of Mississippi. He is an able min¬ 
ister and a great acquisition to the pul¬ 
pits of Memphis, and under his able lead¬ 
ership Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church will 
continue to be in the future, as it has 
been in the past, a power among the 
churches of Memphis, and a center from 
which will radiate a thousand influences 
for the uplift and betterment of our 
people. 

Rock of Ages Baptist Church, 710 S. Wel- 
ington. 

Rev. Griffith.Pastor 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


151 


St. John Baptist Church, 59 N. Lauder¬ 
dale. 

Rev. Wm. J. McMichael.Pastor 

Residence, 755 Williams Ave. 

Membership . 800 

Valuation of church property. .. .$30,000 

Sunday School membership. 125 

Sunday School officers & teachers 15 
Sunday School Supt., M. D. Cash. 

Working Organizations: 

Ladies’ Aid Association, Mrs. R. H. Flem¬ 
ing, Pres. 

Ladies Bible Band Union, Mrs. Maggie 
L. Lake, Pres. 

Juvenile Club, Miss Hattie McMichael, 


Pres. 

B. Y. P. U.,.M. Strickland, Pres. 

Other Church Officials: 

Church Clerk.M. D. Cash 

Chorister .C. H. Sims 

Organist.Miss Mary E. McMichael 


REV. WM. J. M’MICHAEL. 

Some people are born great while oth¬ 
ers have greatness thrust upon them. 
The popular subject of this sketch un¬ 
doubtedly belongs to the former class, 
if real greatness is to be measured by 
one’s achievements. Rev. McMichael was 
born in the great state of Georgia, and 
it is probable that he acquired in the at¬ 
mosphere of that state the ambition to 
achieve great things. His life has not 
been passed on flowery beds of ease, but 
nearly every moment has been taken up 
in performing the stern realities and du¬ 
ties of life. 

He entered the ministry at Corinth, 
Miss., in 1877, and was ordained in 1878. 
Of course, he had to go to Mississippi in 
order to become great. His whole minis¬ 
terial life has been passed within a ra¬ 
dius of 100 miles of Memphis, which 
shows that a prophet is not always with¬ 
out honor in his own country. He at¬ 
tended the common schools and for a 
short while pursued a course at Roger 
Williams University; but owinc/ to the 
pressing demand for ministers of the 


gospel he could not pursue for any length 
of time his studies at that great institu¬ 
tion of learning, but decided to obey 
the Macedonian call for servants in the 
Master’s work. 

He has been pastor of St. John Church 
for twenty years, and through his ef¬ 
forts the growth of this church has been 
marvelous. It is a commodious and 
beautiful structure and reflects great 
credit upon both pastor and members. 
Rev. McMichael is trustee of Howe In¬ 
stitute, general agent for Foreign Mis¬ 
sion work, member of the Board of For¬ 
eign Missions, and moderator of the 
West Tennessee Baptist Association. 
From many standpoints the Lord has 
blessed him. His ministerial labors have 
been crowned with success and his ef¬ 
forts to rear a worthy family have re¬ 
sulted similarly. He is one of the lead¬ 
ing pastors of Memphis and enjoys the 
respect and love of all classes. 

St. Mark Baptist Church.N. Front 

Rev. J. M. Fountain.Pastor 

Residence, 662 N. Second. 

Membership .88 

Sunday School membership.20 

Sunday School officers & teachers.... 2 
Sunday School Supt., Wm. Savage. 

The church presided over by Rev. 
Fountain is not so large and important 
as some of the other churches in Mem¬ 
phis, but nevertheless there is much in 
its history that is worthy of mention. 
Most of the credit for this church’s very 
existence is due to the efforts of Rev. 
Fountain. Considering what he has done 
his work in comparison has not been 
less effective than the work that has 
been done by the great ministers in the 
larger churches. The fact is that the 
humble work of those in the lesser posi¬ 
tions of life is not noticed to the ex¬ 
tent that the work of those in the more 
important positions is. He has done 
great work and his labors are daily re¬ 
ceiving the Master’s blessing. 











152 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


St. Paul Baptist Church, 327 Jackson Av. 


Rev. A. L. Hall, M.D., D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 1292 Kansas. 

Membership . 150 

valuation of church property. . .$35,000 

Sunday School membership. 45 

Sunday School officers & teachers 6 


Sunday School Supt., J. B. Bowman. 

Working Organizations: 

Gideon Club. . .Mrs. Rebecca Green, Pres. 


Volunteers. . ..Miss Lillian Bowles, Pres. 

Club No. 8.Mrs. Ida Payne, Pres. 

Club No. 6.James Parker, Pres. 

Club No. 5. . . .Mrs. Idella Bentley, Pres. 
Club No. 2.N. Morris, Pres. 



REV. A. L. HALL, M.D., D.D. 

Again the state of Alabama comes to 
the front in order to furnish the state of 
Tennessee one of its most distinguished 
native sons in the person of Dr. A. L. 
Hall, of Memphis, Tenn. Few men of 
our race are more gifted than he. He 
is classed among the intellectual giants 
of the race, and well dees he sustain 
his classification. His educational ad¬ 
vantage were good and his training the 
best. He attended schools in Lebanon 
and Memphis, and pursued a course at 


Roger Williams University. He began 
the ministry in 1880, and thus has seen 
long and valuable service for the Master. 
He is probably one of the most gifted 
and versatile of the ministers of Mem¬ 
phis. He is a great preacher, great ora¬ 
tor, a prolific writer and a regular prac¬ 
ticing physician. He is author of “A 
Theological Explanation of the Scrip¬ 
tures, with Sermons and Religious De¬ 
nominations.” He is, also, the author of 
the well-known book “The Ancient, Me¬ 
diaeval and Modern Greatness of the 
Negro.” These two books show the won¬ 
derful grasp of his mind, and if he had 
done nothing else they would still show 
that he has a mind of remarkable power. 
He was editor and owner of the Mem¬ 
phis Striker—the first and only daily 
newspaper that was ever published by 
the colored people. As a theologian he 
lias no superior among his local fellow 
workers, and as a pulpit orator he has 
few equals. His labors as physician and 
minister are very great, and only a 
mind wonderfully endowed can stand the 
strain without injury. Financially he is 
rated among the solid citizens of Mem¬ 
phis. He is a line business man and his 
judgment is sound on all business mat¬ 
ters. As a leader he is faithful to what 
he considers as for the best interest of 
the race, and his record has been one of 
great service and usefulness to his peo¬ 
ple. 

St. Stephens Baptist Church,506 N. Third 
Rev. 0. C. Maxwell.Pastor 

Residence, 1096 Kimbrough. 

Organized .1888 

Founder .Rev. T. A. Scott 

Membership . 500 

Valuation of church property. . . .$15,000 

Sunday School membership. 131 

Sunday School officers & teachers 7 
Sunday School Supt., E. C. Wright. 

Working Organizations: 

Young People’s Working Club, Mrs. 

Sa^ah Macklin, Pres. 

Christian Endeavor Club, Mrs. Amanda 

Miller, Pres. 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


153 



REV. 0. C. MAXWELL. 


In all the various narratives of the 
ministers that we have written up to 
this section of this book, we do not re¬ 
member a single one that claims the city 
of Memphis as the place of his birth. 
A happy departure from this rule, how¬ 
ever, is in the case of Rev. 0. C. Max¬ 
well, who was born within the corporate 
limits of Memphis. He is quite a young 
man, and it is creditable enough for him 


that he has seen three years of service 
in the ministry, and it is a singular fact 
that he is at the head of the very church 
that was founded and pastored by his 
sainted father-in-law, the Rev. T. A. 
Scott. He has been a successful pastor 
and has added 200 members to the church 
in the three years of his pastorate. No 
year has passed by in which his church 
collections did not amount to at least 








154 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


$2,000. He is very ambitious to excel 
in the ministry and to merit the high¬ 
est honors of his calling. He has a 
bright future and is carefully laying the 
foundation on which great and enduring 
success may be laid. He is a constant 
student and has a valuable library of 
theological works. He is secretary of 
the Executive Board of Howe Institute, 
and treasurer of Friendship Baptist As¬ 
sociation. He is an effective preacher 
and a lovable pastor, who ministers to 
his flock in season and out of season in 
order to promote their temporal and spir¬ 
itual welfare. He is a worthy successor 
to a great and God-fearing man. 

Salem Baptist Church... .23 W. Carolina 

Rev. Wm. Thomas.Pastor 

Residence, 1351 Kentucky. 

Membership . 300 

Valuation of church property. .. .$30,000 

Sunday School membership. 50 

Sunday School officers & teachers 6 

Sunday School Supt., W. S. Towns. 

Working Organizations: 

Bible Band, Mrs. Mittie Gibson, Pres. 
Clemmon’s Circle Club, Miss Ella Purdy, 
Pres. 

Willing Workers Club, Mrs. Anna Berry, 
Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., Joseph Cottrell, Pres. 

REV. WM. THOMAS. 

Again the state of Mississippi comes 
forward and provides for Tennessee an¬ 
other one of Tennessee’s successful min¬ 
isters. In youth Rev. Thomas did not 
enjoy good educational advantages and 
consequently he has tried to make up 
by self-application the deficiencies inci¬ 
dent to his lack of advantages in early 
life. He has pursued Bible studies un¬ 
der Dr. T. O. Fuller at Howe Institute. 

He began the ministry in 1895, and has 
been pastor of Salem Baptist Church for 
the past three years. His term of serv¬ 
ice has been peaceful and prosperous. 
Instead of turmoil, strife and litigation 
the dove of peace has hovered over this 


church and the ties of unity and broth¬ 
erly love have been cemented anew. Dur¬ 
ing his pastorate he has improved the 
church property at a cost of more than 
$1,000, and has received into the church 
more than 200 members. He is a safe 
Christian leader and under him this 
church will prosper. 

Shiloh Baptist Church.630 Court 

Rev. B. Hall.Pastor 

Strangers Home Baptist Church, Monroe 
and Pauline. 

Rev. H. C. Hoskins.Pastor 

Residence, 812 N. Montgomery. 

Membership .25 

Sunday School membership.15 

Sunday School officers and teachers. . 4 
Sunday School Supt., Isaac Perkins. 

REV. H. C. HOSKINS. 

The subject of this sketch was born 
at La Grange, Fayette County, Tenn., 
in 1861. He professed a hope in Christ 
in 1878 at the First Baptist Church in 
Brownsville, Tenn., Rev. Martin Win¬ 
field, pastor. He was ordained in 1907. 
His school life was partly spent at Fisk 
University, Nashville, Tenn. He is prom¬ 
inently connected with the G. U. O. O. 
F. fraternity and is secretary of one of 
their lodges. 

Tabernacle Baptist Church... 208 Turley 

/ 

Rev. E. J. Williams, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 206 Turley. 

Membership . 390 

Valuation of church property. .. .$33,000 

Sunday School membership. 92 

Sunday School officers & teachers 19 
Sunday School Supt., Miss Cornelia Lewis 

Working Organizations: 

Bible Band, Mrs. L. B. Oneal, Pres. 
Majestic Club, Miss L. M. Owen, Pres. 
Excelsior Club, Miss Fannie A. Owen, 
Pres. 

Wall Builders’ Club, Mrs. Priscilla Jones, 
Pres. 

B. Y. P. U., Miss Ethel Jones, Pres. 













THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


155 


REV. E. J. WILLIAMS, D.D. 

The state of Georgia cheerfully claims 
the nativity of the brilliant young man 
whose name graces the head of this 
sketch. He was educated in the Atlanta 
public schools and in the Atlanta Baptist 
Seminary. He completed his collegiate 
and theological courses at Iowa College, 
Des Moines, Iowa. He took a course in 
osteopathy in the Columbian department 
of science under the auspices of the 
University of Chicago. He studied law 
both at Princeton University and the 
University of West Tennessee. He was 
in the senior year in medicine in the 
University of West Tennessee. He also 
took a course in stenography at Howe 
Institute. This learned gentleman has 
an ambition not secondary to Alexander 
the Great, who, having conquered the 
whole world cried, it is said, because 
there was no other world for him to con¬ 
quer. Rev. Williams must be a real 
prodigy in order to have accomplished 
the wonderful things that are narrated 
in this chapter. He is certainly a man 
•of extraordinary mental capacity or he 
never could have assimilated a fractional 
part of what he has already acquired in 
the domain of knowledge. The city of 
Memphis has not had such an all-around 
intellectual genius since the days of Rev. 
R. N. Countee, who was the predecessor 
in the same church of which Rev. Wil¬ 
liams is now pastor. Rev. Williams has 
also invaded the domain of literature, 
and has produced some very creditable 
works. The author has had the pleas¬ 
ure of reading one of his pamphlets and 
is satisfied that the reverend gentleman 
has literary talents of the highest order. 
He is a speaker of remarkable force and 
fluency. He has a rare sense of wit 
and humor, and has an appropriate in¬ 
cident or story to apply to every con¬ 
dition that may arise. The good people 
of Tabernacle Church are to be congrat¬ 
ulated for their fortunate selection of 
a minister who is so able that he can 


well maintain the standard that was 
set by the illustrious founder of Taber¬ 
nacle Baptist Church—Rev. R. N. Coun¬ 
tee. 

Union Ave. Baptist Church, 1875 Union 
Ave. 

Rev. Wm. Morgan.Pastor 

Residence, 1871 Union. 

Rev. Morgan is the father of the Bap¬ 
tist ministers of Memphis. For nearly 
forty years he has been in charge of 
Union Avenue Baptist Church, and has 
ministered to generations that are here 
and generations that are dead and gone. 
In many respects he is a remarkable 
man. He has run a great race, he has 
kept the faith and now in the seer and 
yellow of life he can patiently await 
the summons that will carry him over 
the river of life into the joyful beyond. 


CONGREGATIONAL. 

Second Congregational Church, 239 Or¬ 
leans. 

Rev. L. C. Fisher.Pastor 

Membership . 210 

Valuation of church property... .$10,000 

Sunday School membership. 90 

Sunday School officers & teachers 10 
Sunday School Supt., B. M. Roddy. 

Working Organizations: 

Woman’s Missionary Society, Mrs. N. E. 
Whiteman, Pres. 

Christian Endeavor Society, Mrs. Mary 
E. Jennings, Pres. 


EPISCOPAL. 

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, St. Paul 


and S. Cynthia. 

Father E. Thomas Demby.Rector 

Residence, 423 S. Cynthia. 

Membership . 175 

Valuation of church property... .$20,000 

Sunday School membership. 60 

Sunday School teachers. 4 












156 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Working Organizations: 

Women’s Guild. 

Women’s Auxiliary. 

St. Cecilia’s Guild. 

Daughters of the King. 

Brotherhood of St. Andrew. 

FATHER E. THOMAS DEMBY. 

The denomination represented by the 
eminent gentleman whose name graces 
the head of this sketch is noted for the 
learning and transcendant ability of its 
priests. The requirements of this church 
are so high that men of commonplace 
ability can find no place in it. The prep¬ 
aration for the priesthood is so long, ex¬ 
acting and difficult that only the most 
precocious intellects can undergo the or¬ 
deal. This denomination, being of Eng¬ 
lish origin and co-existent with the gov¬ 
ernment itself, is one of the oldest in 
America, and it is but natural that its 
standards should be high. It puts a 
premium on learning and moral worth 
and its representatives are usually men 
noted for their profound learning and 
consecrated lives. The distinguished 
father in question is no exception to this 
rule. Notwithstanding the fact that his 
branch of the Christian church in Mem¬ 
phis has been represented by some of the 
most famous divines in America, this 
worthy father does not suffer the least 
in comparison with his predecessors. In 
fact, if comparisons be made at all they 
will be in favor of the present congenial 
and affable priest. There is a simplicity 
in his character that is not usually evi¬ 
dent in most of the priests of his con¬ 
nection. Being himself an American he 
lacks all of the arrogance and presump¬ 
tion which usually go with foreign birth, 
and which are greatly in evidence in the 
character of most of the West Indian 
and other foreign priests that are con¬ 
nected with this great church. He is 
learned without affectation and pious 


without ostentation. He is sincere and 
plain-speaking in his discourses, and pre¬ 
fers to appeal to man’s reasoning fac¬ 
ulties instead of his imagination. He 
is fearless in his advocacy of right and 
cannot be deterred by menaces and 
threats from what he believes to be 
right. In fact, there is a bold independ¬ 
ence about him that is very refreshing 
and inspiring and which contrasts 
strangely with the guarded and servile 
action of many of them in high places. 

Father Demby is one of the most ac¬ 
complished men in America irrespective 
of race. He received his normal training 
at Morgan College, Baltimore, Md. He 
studied the classics at Lincoln Univers¬ 
ity, Chester county, Pa. He graduated 
with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity 
from Wilberforce University and re¬ 
ceived the degree of master of arts from 
this same institution of learning. The 
National University of Chicago conferred 
upon him, after undergoing a rigid ex¬ 
amination, the degree of doctor of sa¬ 
cred theology. He studied for the priest¬ 
hood at St. Matthew’s Hall, Denver, Col. 
He was ordained priest in Emmanuel 
Church, Memphis, Tenn., in 1899. He 
spent three years in Howard University 
taking select courses in ancient and mod¬ 
ern philosophy. Such is a brief descrip¬ 
tion of some of the salient points in 
the life of this gifted man. Too much 
learning hath not made him mad, and 
he is one of the most pleasant and agree¬ 
able men that one would have the pleas¬ 
ure of meeting in a day’s journey. Great 
as is Father Demby he is but as a Lilli¬ 
putian in comparison with his accom¬ 
plished wife. She is the only one who, 
in our judgment, can best him in an ar¬ 
gument and overwhelm him by the mere 
power of eloquence. Really, Mrs. Dem¬ 
by is an exceptional woman, and a great 
auxiliary and inspiration to her hus¬ 
band in the discharge of his responsible 
duties. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


157 


METHODIST. 

A. M. E. 

Avery Chapel.S. Fourth 

Rev. G. W. Porter, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, Williams Ave. 

Membership . 1,000 

Valuation of church property. .. .$50,000 

Sunday School membership. 225 

Sunday School officers & teachers 16 
Sunday School Supt., D. W. Washington 
Working Organizations: 

Monarch Club, Miss I. M. Stevenson, 
Pres. 

White Ribbon Club, Miss Rosa Hudgins, 
Pres. 

Willing Workers’ Club, Mrs. M. J. Hur¬ 
dle, Pres. 



REV. G. W. PORTER, D.D. 

The grand old volunteer state did 
itself proud when it gave to the world 
the able gentleman whose name orna¬ 
ments the title position of this sketch. 
He was born at Paris, Tenn., 'and spent 
the greater part of his youthful life in 
that section of the state of Tennessee. 
His educational advantages were good. 
He attended the public school at Paris 
and subsequently studied a short time 
at Fisk University. His academic work 
was done at Morris Brown College, At¬ 
lanta, Ga. His early life was spent in 
the teachers’ profession and twelve years 
of his life were devoted to the training 
and strengthening of the minds of the 
youth of our race. 

He completed a course in theology at 
Morris Brown College. He was ordained 


a deacon in 1891 and an elder in 1893. 
Thus being promoted to this exalted po¬ 
sition in three years instead of the usual 
four years. Many great honors have 
been conferred upon this worthy minis¬ 
ter, and he seems to have merited every 
honor that he has received. He is per¬ 
manent trustee of Wilberforce Univer¬ 
sity. He is reading clerk of the Gen¬ 
eral Conference and a member of the 
Board of Finance—the leading board of 
the church. He is chairman of the Local 
Conference Finance Committee. He is 
trustee of Turner Normal Institute, Shel- 
byville, Tenn. He is a stockholder in the 
Union Savings Bank of Vicksburg, and 
one of the original incorporators of that 
financial institution. He owns some very 
valuable property in his home town— 
Paris, Tenn. 

His first most responsible charge was 
at Clarksville, Tenn., where he encoun¬ 
tered a $4,000 debt and liquidated the 
same in five years. When he took 
charge of one of the leading churches 
of Vicksburg he found the conditions as 
discouraging as they were at Clarksville. 
However, lie paid off the great encum¬ 
brance and doubled the church’s member¬ 
ship. His great work at Avery Chapel 
is additional evidence of his ability as 
a financier. In the three years of his 
pastorate in this church he has improve¬ 
ments costing $2,150. Its colossal debt 
was reduced from $2,750 to $500. In 
his pastorate the church had the biggest 
revival in its history, over 500 souls be¬ 
ing converted. 

He has had the great honor of being 
elected to four General Conferences, and 
his election in each instance was on the 
first ballot. This experience is nearly un¬ 
precedented in church history. Many 
worthy men aspire a whole life time to 
gain this great honor without success, 
while Rev. Porter has been elected to 
every general conference that has been 
held since he entered the ministry and 
was eligible to be a delegate. 






158 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


He belongs to the ranks of Connec- 
tional Pastors—men of ability who are 
eligible to be transferred from one con¬ 
ference to another without any reduc¬ 
tion in rank. His standing in his 
branch of the great Methodist Church is 
second to none. Since he has been sta¬ 
tioned in Memphis he has been identified 
with every movement having for its ob¬ 
ject the uplift and betterment of our 
people, and in every instance he has 
shown himself a resourceful, sagacious 
and conservative leader. He is regarded 
with high favor by the thinking men of 
both races, and his opinions are always 
given due respect and consideration. He 
has done a great work at Avery Chapel, 
and his successors must do a great work 
in order to maintain the standard that 
he has set. Rev Porter is a great and 
good man. 

Bethel Chapel.845 Brunswick 

Rev. J. H. Grant.Pastor 

Residence, 397 S. Cynthia. 

Mt. Zion.W. Illinois 

Rev. Wm. Oliver.Pastor 

Providence Chapel.820 Beale 

Rev. R. B. Brookins.Pastor 

Residence, 820 Beale. 

Membership . 400 

Valuation of church property. .. .$15,000 

Sunday School membership. 225 

Sunday School officers & teachers 20 
Sunday School Supt., H. C. Ellison. 

Working Organizations. 

Willing Workers’ Club, A. Thomas, Pres. 
Ladies’ Relief Corps, Mrs. Hattie Wil¬ 
liams, Pres. 

Christian Endeavor, S. Rayford, Pres. 

REV. R. B. BROOKINS, D.D. 

This eloquent speaker and able divine 
first saw the light of day in the great 
Empire State of the South—Georgia. 
He is a veteran in the service of the 
Master, having been licensed to preach 
in 1876. 

He enjoyed the usual educational ad¬ 
vantages afforded by the common 



REV. R. B. BROOKINS, D.D. 


schools of his state, but received his 
higher training at Cookman Institute, 
Jacksonville, Fla. Having a precocious 
mind he made unusual progress in his 
studies, and laid the foundation for that 
intellectual profundity which character¬ 
izes him today. 

In his ministerial work he has served 
over a wide expanse of territory, both 
as pastor and presiding elder. He has 
served in Florida, South Carolina, Indian 
Territory, Arkansas and Tennessee. His 
success in the ministry has been most 
pronounced. The results of his labors 
give evidence of his divine calling. The 
Master has guided him in his labors and 
has given him promise that under His 
standard this pastor will conquer. 

The life of this pastor has not been 
without its bereavements. The hand of 
affliction has laid heavily upon him. 
While in Florida it pleased the Heavenly 
Father to take away from him all that 
were near and dear to him—his beloved 
wife and six children. He was loth to 












THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


159 


remain amid such environment of grief 
and the result was that his labors were 
transferred to other states. Wherever 
he has served he has stamped his in¬ 
dividuality upon the minds of the peo¬ 
ple. His earnestness and Christian zeal 
have impressed all with whom he has 
come in contact. He is a consecrated 
man and a minister of the gospel first, 
last, and all the time. 

There are few preachers that are so 
peculiarly endowed for success as he is. 
He has an agreeable personality, great 
talents, extraordinary eloquence and 
high character. His sermons are models 
of careful preparation, and show the 
power of a 'masterly mind. Enough 
spiritual fervor pervades his sermons to 
make them acceptable to all that are 
truly religious. He is a man of deep 
piety and this quality is shown in all of 
his dealings with his fellowmen. He has 
done a great work for the cause of Christ 
and his reward will be the blessing be¬ 
stowed upon the faithful and the true. 

St. Andrew’s Chapel, E. Calhoun and 
Avery. 

Rev. M. T. Cooper, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 520 S. Avery. 

Membership . 700 

Valuation of church property... .$30,000 
Sunday School membership.... 150 
Sunday School officers & teachers 10 
Sunday School Supt., J. N. Mhoon. 

Working Organizations: 

White Rose Pew Club, Mrs. Lillie Brown, 
Pres. 

Ruth Circle Club, Mrs. Belle Norman, 
Pres. 

REV. M. T. COOPER, D.D. 

The state of Mississippi claims the 
distinction for the birth of Rev. M. T. 
Cooper. His life has been one of great 
service and usefulness among his people. 
He was trained in the public schools of 
Mississippi, and also attended the fa¬ 
mous Tougaloo University, near Jack- 
son, Miss. He taught school in the 



REV. M. T. COOPER, D.D. 


States of Tennessee and Mississippi for 
twelve years, and did valuable work in 
promoting the, progress of his people. 

He began in the travelling connection 
of the ministry in 1895. He took a four 
years’ theological course in the confer¬ 
ence after entering the ministry. The 
Princeton University conferred upon him 
the degree of doctor of divinity in honor 
of his deep learning and distinguished 
service. 

He was located at Providence Chapel 
for three years, and in this time he paid 
off a big mortgage on the church and 
saved the property to its members. He 
has filled a charge at Paris, Tenn. He 













160 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


has been two years at St. Andrews, and 
during this time he has raised for build¬ 
ing purposes alone $1,500, which is de¬ 
posited in the bank to the credit of the 
church. Rev. Cooper is a man of great 
experience and thorough training. Both 
as teacher and minister he has had ex¬ 
perience with the world and is acquaint¬ 
ed with humanity from every stand¬ 
point. This experience has enabled him 
to lead his people intelligently and 
wisely, and this he has always cheerfully 
done. His church is the second largest 
of his branch of the connection in this 
city and his influence with his people 


is correspondingly great. 

St. James.604 N. Fourth 

Rev. T. S. Johnson, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 604 N. Fourth. 

Organized .1864 

Membership . 350 


Valuation of church property. . . .$10,000 

Sunday School membership. 234 

Sunday School officers & teachers 20 
Sunday School Supt., Wm. Strong. 

Working Organizations: 

Auxiliary Ladies, Mrs. Margaret John¬ 
son, Pres. 

Parsonage Band, Mrs. Lula Bennett, 
Pres. 

Church Aid Society, Mrs. Beatrice Cum¬ 
mings, Pres. 

Daughters of Conference, Miss Rosa Web¬ 
ster, Pres. 

Early Bird Sunshiners, Mrs. Belle Webb, 
Pres. 

Sewing Circle, Mrs. Tennie Cole, Pres. 
King’s Messengers, Arthur Bridgewater, 
Pres. 

Private Soldiers, S. W. Greer, Pres. 
Bible School, S. Webster, Pres. 

School of Prophets, Rev. T. S. Johnson, 
Pres. 

Allen Christian Endeavor, James Web¬ 
ster, Pres. 

REV. T. S. JOHNSON, D.D. 

This excellent and lovable pastor is 
a native of the state of Kentucky, hav¬ 
ing been born in Louisville in the latter 
part of the Civil War. He attended the 


public schools at his heme and then ma¬ 
triculated at the Indiana State Univer¬ 
sity. Having graduated with high hon¬ 
ors he entered the ministry of the A. 
M. E. Church and has been living a life 
of consecrated service for a generation. 

Dr. Johnson is a brilliant scholar, an 
earnest worker and a Christian gentle¬ 
man. He is called the children’s pastor 
because of his sincere interest in and 
love for the children. Under his spirit¬ 
ual leadership Litle St. James has flour¬ 
ished. More than 300 have been received 
into the church, and the church’s 



REV. T. S. JOHNSON, D.D. 

finances have been more than doubled. 
He is resourceful in projects for the 
financial and spiritual welfare of his 
church, and in every capacity he has 
been successful beyond comparison. He 
has a charming personality. He is enter¬ 
taining and affable and seems to have 
all the buoyancy of his boyhood days. 
He is an effective revival preacher and 
through this power he has wrought great 
work for his church. 

He is interested in the progress of his 
race and is willing to exhaust every 
resource in order to promote the same. 
He has systematically visited the 
schools, and his words have been an in¬ 
spiration to the pupils to lead a high 
and noble life. In recognition of his 
services in the cause of education and 
religion and because of his great learn¬ 
ing the degree of doctor of divinity was 
conferred upon him in 1906 by Turner 
College at Shelbyville, Tenn. 
















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


161 


A. M. E. ZION. 

Harris Chapel.964 Louisa 

Rev. C. L. Alexander. ....Pastor 

Residence, 962 Louisa. 

Membership . 235 

Valuation of church property.$3,000 

Sunday School membership. 125 

Sunday School officers & teachers. 6 
Sunday School Supt., Leo Moore. 

Working Organizations: 

Varick Christian Endeavor, Mrs. Anna P. 
Williams, Pres. 

Woman’s Home and Foreign Mission So¬ 
ciety, Mrs. Mary E. Bryant, Pres. 
Daughters of Conference^ Mrs. Emily 
Talbot, Pres. 

Ladies’ Auxiliary, Miss Ruth Rudd, Pres. 
Blue Ribbon Circle, Miss Jessie B. Rudd, 
Pres. 



REV. C. L. ALEXANDER, A.M., D.D. 

The world is indebted to the state of 
Alabama for the production of the 
worthy and eminent life with which this 
sketch deals. While this distinguished 
divine was born in the state of Alabama 
he spent the greater part of his life in 
the Old North State, and is closely con¬ 
nected with the glorious history of sev¬ 
eral of her great sons. 


Few men have enjoyed better educa¬ 
tional advantages than the subject of 
this sketch. Beginning his education in 
the common schools of his State he add¬ 
ed to this foundation courses at Tuske- 
gee Normal Institute, Talladega College, 
Gammon Theological Seminary and other 
institutions of learning. He is a grad¬ 
uate of the famous Tuskegee Institution 
and also completed a theological course 
at Phelps Hall, of this same school. Al¬ 
together he spent five years in the va¬ 
rious departments of Tuskegee Institute 
and is possibly as well acquainted as 
any other living man with the great man 
at the head of this institution—Dr. 
Booker Washington. 

Rev. Alexander took college work at 
Talladega College. He is a graduate of 
the famous Gammon Theological Sem¬ 
inary, Atlanta, Ga., and is one of the 
best prepared ministers in the pulpits 
of the South. He took a special course 
in theology under Dr. Winchester Donell, 
of Trinity Church, Boston, Mass. He 
received the degree of A.M. from one of 
the leading universities; also, the Prince¬ 
ton University conferred upon him the 
degree of doctor of divinity. 

In his ministerial work he has la¬ 
bored in the states of North Carolina, 
Alabama, and Tennessee. For his branch 
of the Christian church he has built 
church buildings valued at more than 
$30,000, and has paid for the same. In 
this community he has done more ef¬ 
fective work and has been of greater 
service to the community than any other 
representative of his church that has 
ever been located in Memphis. In this 
city during his short stay he lias liqui¬ 
dated a great debt that hung over the 
church and added to it over a hundred 
members. His successful labors in this 
city have called attention to the fact 
that here is an A. M. E. Zion church in 
Memphis which, seemingly, very few peo¬ 
ple had realized before this able divine 
came to Memphis. He is a pulpit orator 








162 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


of the greatest ability and has a power 
over an audience that is possessed by 
very few ministers. He is the personifi¬ 
cation of eloquence. 

His record since he entered the min¬ 
istry has been glorious indeed. Up to 
this time he has baptized and received 
into the church thereby over 1,200 mem¬ 
bers. He has had great success in every 
department of church work and as a 
financier he has enjoyed a reputation 
second to none. In fact, his ability along 
this line is so well known by the great 
men at the head of his church that he 
is usually selected as an emergency 
preacher to be sent to charges whose 
financial affairs are suffering in order 
that his great financial ability may be 
used to bring the churches out of debt. 
He is doing a great work in Memphis, 
and is the most successful preacher that 
his denomination has ever had in Mem¬ 
phis. 

In this sketch it may be timely to say 
that the A. M. E. Zion Church, though 
not so well known in Memphis, is one of 
the most powerful branches of the great 
Methodist Church. It is strong in the 
East and flourishes in many places 
where the other branches of the Meth¬ 
odist Church are as little known as 
the A. M. E. Zion Church is known here. 
Some of the most eminent men in the 
United States today are members of 
this church. Dr. Price, the famous ora¬ 
tor, now dead, was one of the brightest 
lights of this denomination. Frederick 
Douglass, the greatest colored American, 
was a member of this church. It is said 
to have the greatest preaching bishops 
in America. Not only are its bishops 
men noted for their consecrated lives 
and distinguished learning, but they are 
noted for their wonderful eloquence. 
They all seem literally to have a tongue 
of fire while preaching the Holy Word. 
Their bishops form a combination which 
for versatility of power is not surpassed 
in the galaxy of American greatness. 


Rev. C. L. Alexander seems to be in¬ 
spired by the great men at the head of 
his church and is resolved, as far as his 
powers of heart and brain will permit, 
to do everything that he can to com¬ 
mend his denomination. to thinking peo¬ 
ple and promote the great cause of turn¬ 
ing the world from darkness into light. 

C. M. E. 

Collins Chapel.Washington Ave. 

Rev. I. S. Person, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 280 Leath. 

Membership . 1,200 

Valuation of church property... .$75,000 

Sunday School membership. 300 

Sunday School officers & teachers 18- 
Sunday School Supt., Edward Joyner. 

Working Organizations: 

Epworth League, J. H. Morton, Pres. 
Christian Knights and Ladies, George 
Pigrune, Pres. 

Woman’s Missionary Society, Miss Venie 
Gilder, Pres. 

REV. I. S. PERSON, D.D. 

The Lone Star State claims the nativ¬ 
ity of this gifted and wonderful man of 
God. The state of Texas not only pro¬ 
duced him, but it was for a long time 
a field for his evangelical labors. Rev. 
Person has had a meteoric career, but 
unlike a meteor the brilliancy of his life 
has not been short-lived but has increased 
with each succeeding year. He was ed¬ 
ucated in the public schools and in Phi¬ 
lander Smith College, one of the leading 
institutions of learning. He is a man 
of profound learning and this is appar¬ 
ent to any one that is so fortunate as to 
listen repeatedly to his learned dis¬ 
courses. As a pulpit orator it is doubt¬ 
ful if he has an equal in the connec¬ 
tion. He is a preacher of marvelous 
power and can move his audience to 
laughter or tears at will. 

He began the ministry in 1880, and is 
thus a veteran in ministerial harness. 
He has served very widely as pastor, and 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


163 


his services in this capacity have extend¬ 
ed nearly from the Atlantic to the Pa¬ 
cific. For eight years he was general 
missionary secretary, and performed the 
duties of this exalted position with sig¬ 
nal ability. In his long and faithful 
connection with the church he has served 
in nearly every capacity and discharged 
every honor with a credit worthy of his 
distinguished name and great reputation. 
He has been honored with the most im¬ 
portant charges in the connection and 
there can be no greater honors conferred 
upon him unless his fellow churchmen 
confer upon him the highest honor with¬ 
in their gift—the bishopric of the church. 

Rev. Person is a leader in the councils 
of his race wherever he goes. He is 
wise in counsel, ready in action and fear¬ 
less in his performance of what he be¬ 
lieves to be right. He is an orator that 
would stamp the greatness of his mind 
on any occasion that he might grace. 
He is an inspired man whom God has 
raised up to lead his people and he is 
thoroughly prepared for this responsi¬ 
ble mission. Under his matchless lead¬ 
ership Collins Chapel has flourished and 
continues to be the leading center from 
which good influences have radiated. 
Rev. Person is considered a safe, con¬ 
servative and reliable citizen, and with 
him at the helm to guide it the ship of 
race progress will be safely guided to 
the harbor of safety. 

Greenwood Chapel.E. Heiskell 

Rev. T. J. Tyus .Pastor 

Residence, Saratoga, St. 

Membership . 240 

Valuation of church property.$4,500 

Sunday School membership. 65 

Sunday School officers & teachers. 7 
Sunday School Supt., R. W. Ousley. 

Working Organization: 

Busy Bee Club, W. M. Shepherd, Pres. 

REV. T. J. TYUS. 

This worthy pastor was born in the 
state of Tennessee. He began the min¬ 
istry in 1878, and it is his proud and 


thankful boast that he has preached 
every Sunday since he began the minis¬ 
try thirty years ago. It is his wish to 
die in harness. He would rather wear 
out in the service of the Master than to 
rust out by failing to use his God-given 
powers. It has been his good fortune 
to attend every conference of every char¬ 
acter since he entered the ministry. He 
has a reputation second to none for faith¬ 
ful performance of duty, and consecrat¬ 
ed service. He is an effective preacher 
and a man anxious to serve humanity 
with every power of body and mind that 
God has given him. 

Harris Chapel.Essex Ave. 

Rev. J. W. Barnett.Pastor 

Residence, Essex Ave. 

Membership . 116 

Valuation of church property.$1,500 

Sunday School membership. 54 

Sunday School officers & teachers. 9 
Sunday School Supt., J. E. Taylor. 

Working Organization: 

Young People’s Club, Brother Glass, Pres. 

REV. J. W. BARNETT. 

The Christian worker whose name is 
at the head of this sketch may be par¬ 
doned if he should feel lonesome be¬ 
cause of the fact that there are so few 
ministers that can, with him, claim the 
state of Tennessee as their birthplace. 
He was educated at Lane College, Jack- 
son, Tenn., the leading institution of 
learning of his denomination in the state 
of Tennessee. He also pursued a theo¬ 
logical course at this institution. He 
had the honor of being sent to Lane 
College by his church conference. 

For several years he has been identified 
with the cause of education in Shelby 
county, and is now in connection with 
his ministerial work, one of Shelby coun¬ 
ty’s most efficient teachers. He is an 
earnest, faithful, consecrated young man, 
with a bright future, and the denomina¬ 
tion is to be congratulated for having 
such excellent material out of which to 
build a great and useful man. 












164 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Mt. Olive.600 E. Georgia 

Rev. J. M. Rivers.Pastor 

Residence, 1244 McLemore. 

Membership . 516 

Valuation of church property. .. .$15,000 

Sunday School membership. 150 

Sunday School officers & teachers 14 
Sunday School Supt., Ellis Brown. 


Although born in Alabama he Avas reared 
in sunny Tennessee. He attended the 
common schools of the state and supple¬ 
mented this experience with a course at 
Central Tennessee College, Nashville. 
He made special preparation for the min¬ 
istry by pursuing the study of theology 
under Dr. A. B. Jones, of the White Fe- 



REV. J. M. RIVERS 


Working Organizations: 

Woman’s Missionary Society, Mrs. Emma 
Reed, Pres. 

Ladies’ Sewing Circle, Mrs. Roberta Cole, 
Pres. 

Stewardess Board, Mrs. Mary Stephen¬ 
son, Pres. 

Auxiliary Board, Mrs. Charity Mhoon, 
Pres. 

REV. J. M. RIVERS. 

Once again comes forward the great 
state of Alabama and claims the nativity 
of another one of our distinguished min¬ 
isters in the person of Rev. J. M. Rivers. 


male Institute, of Jackson, Tenn. He 
began preaching in 1880, and thus he 
claims the honor with his ministerial co¬ 
laborer, Dr. Person, of starting in the 
ministry the same year—1880. He served 
in the Kansas and Missouri conferences 
for twenty years, twelve years of which 
time were spent as presiding elder. He 
began his present pastorate in December, 
1906, and his years’ work has been noted 
for and characterized by duty well and 
faithfully done. He is a plain, unpre¬ 
tentious, earnest Christian worker with 
an ambition to do all the good he can 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


165 


for his own people, and the cause of hu¬ 
manity in general. He has been a suc¬ 
cessful pastor and under him there has 
been general progress in every depart¬ 
ment of the church. He is blessed with 
a devoted, discreet and tactful wife, 
whose services have been invaluable to 
him in the prosecution of his work. She 
is popular and is loved by all that know 
her. The two make an ideal couple for 
service and usefulness in the cause of 
uplifting the race and humanity. 

Mt. Pisgah.Marechal Neil Ave. 

Rev. C. C. Townsend.Pastor 

Residence, 838 Alma. 

Membership . 350 

Valuation of church property.$5,000 

Sunday School membership. 130 

Sunday School officers & teachers. 10 
Sunday School Supt., Wm. Davis. 

Working Organization: 

Auxiliary Board, Mrs. Mary Allen, Pres. 

REV. C. C. TOWNSEND. 

The reverend gentleman whose name 
adorns the head of this sketch hails 
from the great state of Mississippi and 
in life and service is a worthy son of 
the state of his birth. Ambitious to pre¬ 
pare himself for service and not having 
at hand the advantages for schooling 
that he desired he took a normal train¬ 
ing course from the correspondence nor¬ 
mal school of Denver, New York, and 
thus became very proficient in scholar¬ 
ship. 

He began the ministry in 1885 and in 
the traveling connection in 1889. He 
completed the theological course at Lane 
College, Jackson, Tenn., and thoroughly 
prepared himself for intelligent and use¬ 
ful service. Under him Mt. Pisgah 
Church has prospered both financially 
and spiritually. Not only is he a good 
preacher but he is a good pastor and in 
the twenty-three years of his experience 
in the ministry he has done untold good 
in building up the Master’s kingdom. 



REV. C. C. TOWNSEND 

Smother’s Chapel.838 Alaska 

Rev. E. W. Carter.Pastor 

M. E. 

Centenary.270 E. Calhoun 

Rev. W. H. Key, D.D.Pastor 

Residence, 270 E. Calhoun. 

Membership . 450 

Valuation of church property. . . .$35,000 

Sunday School membership. 175 

Sunday School officers & teachers 13 
Sunday School Supt., Dr. D. W. Fields. 

Working Organizations. 

Willing Workers’ Club, J. E. Land, Pres. 
Anna Burton Club, Miss Lula Mosby, 
Pres. 

Epworth League, James Knox, Pres. 

REV. W. H. KEY, D.D. 

The great state of Tennessee gives to 
the ministerial body in Memphis its 
pioneer in active service and its dean 
in honor in the person of Dr. W. H. Key, 
who was born in Sumner County, Tenn., 
and began the ministry in 1866. His ca¬ 
reer has been so eventful that it reads 























166 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


as though it was culled from the pages 
of fiction. It is probable that his life 
is unique in the annals of Methodism. 

Though now a man of advanced age it 
was his good fortune to have been a 
highly intelligent young man in the early 
days of reconstruction following the 
Civil War, and he was in position to be 
of great service to his people. Official 
honors of all kinds were conferred upon 
him. He was appointed by Governor 
Brownlow as loyal agent to make out 
all the loyal claims of the people of 
Sumner county resulting from the 
Civil War, and he performed the duties 
of this position even at this early date 
with the same fidelity and ability that 
have characterized all of his subsequent 
efforts. 

In the Civil War he was a Unioir spy 
under Gen. Payne at Gallatin, Tenn., 
and in this capacity he engaged in many 
hazardous undertakings for the cause 
of the Union and the freedom of the ne¬ 
gro race. 

He has been a presiding elder for 
twenty-five years and a delegate to six 
general conferences. He is the only sur¬ 
viving chartered member of the original 
Tennessee conference—all the others 
having gone to reap their reward. He 
hasn’t missed a roll-call in the confer¬ 
ence since its organization. His labors 
in the conference have been vast from 
every standpoint. As a financier he leads 
his conference, having built over $150,000 
worth of substantial church property. 
The commodious brick structure in which 
his congregation is now worshipping is 
a monument to his interest and sacri¬ 
fices; for in order that this handsome 
church might be saved he mortgaged his 
property to provide for it. This single 
instance alone shows the real character 
of Dr. Key. He is not working for self, 
but for humanity. In his early days 
he taught school and was one of the 
leading educators of his community. He 
taught his own children and laid in their 


minds the foundation on which they 
themselves might build a structure of 
greatness. All of his children were 
given the very best educational advan¬ 
tages that his great love and great 
wealth could afford. They attended 
Walden University and were so success¬ 
ful that they became eminent in the 
domain of learning. 

Dr. Key is a trustee of Walden Uni¬ 
versity and was for some time a pro¬ 
fessor in its theological departments. 
He is the wealthiest preacher in his de¬ 
nomination and owns, near Mason, 
Tenn., 350 acres of as fine farming land 
as can be found in the State of Ten¬ 
nessee. His country home is famous far 
and wide for its hospitality and in it 
Dr. Key lives like an East Indian nabob. 

The trustees of Walden University, as 
a feeble testimonial of his great services 
and eminent ability conferred upon him 
the degree of Doctor of Divinity, which 
honor he has well merited. He is a re¬ 
markable man in an age teeming with 
remarkable men. > His life seems more 
like a romance than a stern reality. 
Though advanced in age he is still young 
in resolution and ambition and seems 
determined to wear out in usefulness 
and service and not rust out in the 
inactivity and indolence of old age. 

Warren Chapel... .Wilkerson and Mon- 
sarratt. 

Rev. S. M. Strayhorn.Pastor 

Residence, Wilkerson and Montsarratt. 

Membership . 135 

Valuation of Church Property... $2,500 

Sunday School Membership. 90 

S. S. Officers and Teachers. 14 

Sunday School Supt., John Gillian. 

Working Organizations: 

Ladies’ Aid Society, Mrs. Hattie Maul- 
den, Pres. 

Woman’s Home Mission Society, Mrs. 
Anna Bowers, Pres. 

Epworth League, E. M. Patterson, Pres. 





THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


167 


REV. S. M. STRAYHORN, B.D. 

This distinguished looking, lovable and 
popular minister does not consider him¬ 
self astray because he happened to be 
born in the State of Georgia rather than 
the State of Mississippi. He began the 
ministry in the State of Tennessee in 
1897. He took advantage of the op¬ 
portunity of preparing himself for ef¬ 
fective service in the ministry by com¬ 
pleting the theological course at Wal¬ 
den University, Nashville, Tenn. Still 
ambitious to cultivate and strengthen 
the powers of his mind he subsequently 
took a post-graduate course at Princeton 


University and received from this well- 
known institution of learning the degree 
of Bachelor of Divinity. He has been 
presiding over Warren Chapel for three 
years, and his efforts have been crowned 
with success. He is a man devoted to 
duty and to the best interests of his 
people and is unceasing in his efforts 
to promote their welfare. He is treas¬ 
urer of the Tennessee Conference and 
this position is considered one of great 
honor. In the three years of his labors 
in this community he has done great 
work and his efforts deserve the lasting 
regard of those whom he has served so 
well. 


Cigar Makers 


Chevall, Henry.962 Monroe 

Daniels, Wm.346 Decatur 

Dannell, Edward.962 Monroe 

Gray, Ike .Spring 

Mr. Gray is a young man, but has 
been quite successful in mastering his 
trade as a cigarmaker. 

Hendreson, Louis .962 Monroe 

McNeely, Wm.349 Beale 

Merrero, A.962 Monroe 

Parks, Henry .349 Beale 

! H. Parks Wm. A. McNeely ! 

• EL PERFECTO CIGAR MF’G CO. • 

H. Parks & Co., Props. | 

• *** ? 

BRANDS: ? 

i Long Smoke, Sunny South, j 
Smart Set, El Perfecto, ? 

* H. Parks & Co.’s Little Havanas. | 
: *** £ 

! Private Brands Our Specialty. | 
| 349 Beale Ave. Memphis, Tenn. \ 

I New Phone 1706. f 

Mail Orders Receive Prompt ? 
I Attention. i 

I 1 


Saragasso, Albert.962 Monroe 

Sevier, Frederick. . N. Mem. Cigar Fact’y 
The most experienced, capable and ar¬ 
tistic cigarmaker among the colored 
workmen of Memphis is Mr. Frederick 
Sevier, whose record for ability in his 
line is so well known that any extended 
reference to it is nearly superfluous. His 
knowledge of every detail in the business 
of manufacturing cigars is complete, and 
what he is unable to do in his line is 
incapable of being done. He is one of 
the leading workmen of the North Mem¬ 
phis Cigar Factory and one of the best 
known manipulators of tobacco in the 
South. Like Frederick the Great of old, 
he is a great man in his line. 














168 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Cleaning, Pressing, Repairing 


Anderson, De Witt . 

Arnett, J. W. 

Atkins, Harry . 

Bailey, Walter L. . 

Barnes, Thos. 

Blackburn, Nelson . 

Boyd, John . 

Branch, Elijah. 

Brient, L. 0. 

Coleman & Hutchins 

Clark, R. A. 

Clopton, Calvin. 

Collins, George 

Davis, James. 

Dortch, John. 

Dupree, A. 


.83 Exchange 

.6171/2 Beale 

.83 Exchange 

.673 N. Main 

. .R. 221 Commerce 

.116 S. Main 

.464 Monroe 

.207 Gayoso 

.206 Jackson 

_210 S. Rayburn 

.N. Huppert 

.639 Georgia 

.264 Leath 

.207 S. Third 

.164 N. Fourth 

.150 S. Fourth 


I METROPOLITAN CLEANING & 
t DYEING COMPANY, 

! A. Dupree, Mgr. 

f 150 S. Fourth St., Memphis, Tenn. 

Opp. Avery Chapel. 
i All kinds of Repairing on Gent’s 
| Clothing. Fancy Dry Cleaning, 
f Clothes Called for and Delivered 
\ Free of Charge, 

i New Phone 295. 






Ellison, M. E.677 S. Orleans 

Finley & Clay.763 Florida 

Fitzpatrick, Wm. H.1008 Johnson 

Fleming, S.754 Union 

Frend, C. H.146 S. Third 

Hall, Roseman .574 Jackson 

Harmond, Chas.250 Union 

Harris, Jesse.441 S. Wellington 

Hason, J. W.416 Monroe 

Henderson, James H.207 S. Third 

Henry, George.561 Mississippi 

Hodo & Allen.146 S. Third 

Holmes, H. & Bro.156 S. Third 

Hughes & Thompson.316 Poplar 

Hunt, W. S.1014 Poplar 

Johnson, F. D.341 S. Third 




Albert Hodo, 

Propr. 

THE BACHELORS’ 

CLUB. 

Let Us Be Your Presser. 


i 


Ben Allen, i 

Mgr. 2 


PRESSING 


PRICE LIST: 

Pants Pressed 25c. 

Men’s Suits Pressed, 50c. 

Suits Cleaned and Pressed, $1.25. 
Ladies’ Skirts Pressed, 50c up. 
Ladies’ Silk Waists, 75c up. 
Ladies’ Suits Cleaned and Pressed, 
$2.25. 

vwv 

We Guarntee Work First-Class. 

146 S. Third Street. 
Memphis Phone 2515. 


Jones, Walter .83 Exchange 

Joyner, E.688 S. Main 


4—•..•..•.■•..•.■•..•■'•"•.■•..•"•'.•.■•..•..•..•■.•.■•..•"•..•..•..•.4'* 
\ UNIVERSAL PRESSING CLUB. I 

! E. JOYNER, Propr. f 

A. W. WEATHERBY, Mgr. 

? WY7 ! 

i Cleaning, Pressing and Repairing. | 
f Work Done on Short Notice. f 

| Goods Called for and De- ? 

i livered. i 

1 All Kinds of Hat Work Done f 

• 688 S. Main St. Memphis, Tenn. i 

• i 
4...•..•..•..•.4. 


G. LOVE, SR., 
The Tailor. 


1 

I 

4... 


Suits and Pants Made to Order. 

Cleaning, Dyeing, Pressing 
and Repairing Done 
on Short Notice. 

Work Called for and Delivered. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. 
Cumberland Phone 1401-A. 

663 Miss. Blvd., Cor. Georgia 
Avenue. 









































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


169 


Little, I. W.189 Winchester 

Logan, Robert .571 St. Paul 

Long, Oliver .789 S. Milburn 

Love, G.663 Mississippi 

Martin, S. L.99 S. Third 


f 


f THE ! 

| KANSAS CITY PRESSING CLUB | 


i 


S. L. Martin, Mgr. 


| Clothes Cleaned, Pressed and Re- f 
f paired While You Wait. • 
f Ladies’ Garments a Specialty. I 
| Goods Sent for and Delivered Free | 

j New Phone, 1362. • 

• 99 S. Third Street. | 

• i 

.a..*.. 

McClarin, S. B., Mrs.73 McCall 


McCLARIN’S l 

! STEAM CLEANING WORKS, j 


DYEING, PRESSING 
AND REPAIRING. 


f 


f All Work First Class.-Ladies’ • 

I Work a Specialty. | 

| Mrs. S. B. McClarin, Propr. ? 

73 McCall St. 

• • 

McClendon, C.951 N. Second 

McDonald, Wm.689 Marshall 

Mhoon, Jacob N.379 S. Wellington 

Miles, B. E.571 St. Paul 

I ST. PAUL PRESSING CLUB, 

B. E. Miles, Propr. 


CLEANING, PRESSING 
and REPAIRING. 


Work Done on Short Notice. ? 
Work Called For and Delivered. | 


f 571 St. Paul Ave. New Phone 1703 j 


Murray, H. C.523y 2 S. Fourth 

a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. c .. a .. a ,. a .. #M * > 

H. C. MURRAY, ? 

I <• ! 

f Pick Me Up and Don’t Throw f 

l Me Down. 

| * | 

i I Do Cleaning, Pressing and I 

f Repairing. ? 

; Work Called for, Delivered and ? 

i Guaranteed. • 

t * i 

• Men’s Suits Pressed, 45c. 

! Dry Cleaned, 75c. ? 

i Steam Cleaned, $1.25. f 

f Ladies’ Skirts Pressed, 50c. f 

* Dry Cleaned, 75c. \ 

* 

! 523y 2 S. Fourth Memphis, Tenn. ! 

i • 

Newman, Albert .765 S. Main 

I SOUTH MEMPHIS PRESSING I 
? CLUB | 

i Albert Newman, Propr. i 

i *** t 

i Clothes Dyed, Cleaned, Pressed | 
f and Repaired. ? 

? *** t 

i All Work Neatly and promptly i 
? Done. Clothes Called for and De- ? 
I livered to any part of the city. ? 

* *** S 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. t 

? *** ? 

f 765 S. Main St., Cor. R. R. Ave. | 
s New Phone 177, Memphis, Tenn. ? 
| JOHN JONES, Solicitor. I 

• • 

Ragland, J. D.205 Winchester 

Reed, Chas.571 St. Paul 

Richmond, Chas.316 Sanderson 

{ LOOK! | 

| CHAS. H. RICHMOND ! 

l CLEANING, PRESSING | 

? -and REPAIRING. * | 

s vwv f 

• Work Called for and Delivered. f 
316 Sanderson Ave. * 

! Memphis, Tenn. 

i t 




















170 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Roberson & Swyvers.83 S. Third 

• Call to See Us 

! ROBERSON & SWYVERS, 

• f 

! CLEANING, PRESSING, ! 

• REPAIRING and DYING • 

LADIES’ and GENTS’ ? 

I CLOTHES. | 

• _ • 

| All Work Neatly Done. We will ? 
i Call for and Deliver all Goods, i 

• ___ ? 

| 83 S. Third St., Mem. Phone 3243 | 

• Memphis, Tenn. • 

? t 


Ross, James . 

.398 Beale 

Russell, George .... 

.370 Poplar 

Saunders, Spencer . 

...R. 512 N. Third 

Scott, Eugene . 

.101 S. Second 

Smith & Harris.... 

.. Lane & Manassas 

Strong, George .... 

.180 Calhoun 

Taylor & Love ... . 

.252 Rayburn 

Taylor, S. 

.412 N. Main 

Thompson, W. H. . 

.394 Beale 

White, R. C. 

.367 Court 

Williams, C. J. 

_523y 2 S. Fourth 


Clerks 


Armstead, Vince.Landau & Landau 

Gilliland, James .Herman Crohn 



Joyner, Edward .T. W. Leidy 


Mr. Joyner is a practical hatter of 
experience and has been for two genera¬ 
tions a trusted and confidential employe 
of the leading hatter of Memphis, the 


Leidy Company. He is salesman, clerk 
and expert hat manipulator, and has in¬ 
vented several styles of headgear that 
have met with great popular favor. Mr. 
Joyner is not only one of our most ex¬ 
perienced business men, but he is a very 
useful citizen in many respects. He is 
a great worker in the church and in the 
Sunday School, and his efforts in both 
departments have been productive of 
great and lasting good. He is also a 
popular fraternity man. He is probably 
the best known colored man in Mem¬ 
phis, and he is as favorably known as 
he is well known. His word is as good 
as a gold bond, and personally he is re¬ 
spected and esteemed as highly as any 
other citizen of Memphis. He has been 
thrifty and has never slept but a few 
hours at the time for fear that some 
good opportunity might escape him. He 
is as fine a man as he is distinguished 
in appearance, and true loyal as well as 
royal blood flows in his veins. His 
charming wife is the beloved daughter 
of Mr. Benjamin Johnson, one of our 
wealthiest citizens. 

Nelson, Wm. E.. .Yard Clk., Cole Mfg Co. 
Sims, Chas.Yard Clk., Cole Mfg Co. 

Mr. Sims is a gentleman of experience 
and ability in the lumber business, and 
as an inspector of the finished product 
he has no superior. 

























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


171 


Wade, C. M.174 Beale 

The face of Mr. Wade on Beale avenue 
is as familiar to passers-by as that of 
Santa Claus; for he has been so long 
employed in his present capacity that 
he is very well known. He is an ex¬ 
perienced and capable salesman and 
gives satisfactory service. 

Ward, A. F.Dan Shea Boiler Wks. 


Mr. Ward performs the duties of 
time-keeper and shipping clerk of this 
famous factory. 

White, Sidney A.Goodman’s Dry 

Goods Store. 

For three years Mr. White has been 
connected in the capacity of clerk with 
A. Goodman’s Dry Goods Co., and is 
one of the most trusted employes. 


Clubs 


Business and Professional. 

Business Men’s League—Rev. J. Jay 
Scott, Pres., 1240 Race street. 

Bluff City Medical and Dental Asso¬ 
ciation—R. G. Martin, M.D., Pres., 1244 
McLemore avenue; R. M. Hunt, M.D., 
Secretary, 812 S Main. 

Literary. 

LeMoyne Athenaeum—LeMoyne Insti¬ 
tute. 

Shakespearean Club—Howe Insti¬ 
tute. 

Ministers. 

A. M. E. Alliance—Rev. M. T. Cooper, 
Pres.; Rev. R. Brookins, Vice-Pres.; 
Rev. T. S. Johnson, Secretary. 

C. M. E. Alliance—Rev. T. J. Tyus, 
Pres.; Dr. I. S. Person, V.-Pres.; Rev. 
C. C. Townsend, Secretary. 

General Alliance—Dr. G. W. Porter, 
Pres.; Dr. T. J. Searcy, V.-Pres.; Rev. 
C. L. Alexander, Secretary. 


Womens. 

Federation of Women’s Clubs of Ten¬ 
nessee—Mrs. N. E. Whiteman, State 
Pres., 599 Polk; Mrs. M. E. Johnson, V.- 
Pres., Jackson, Tenn.; Mrs. L. F. 
Branch, Sec., 707 Simmons; Mrs. F. T. 
Cooper, State Organizer, 371 S. Cynthia; 
Mrs. Lena Wilson, Treasurer, 1269 E. 
McLemore. 

Coterie—Mrs. F. F. White, Pres., 953 
McDowell. 

Free Kindergarten Association—Mrs. 
M. J. Hurdle, Pres., 599 St. John; Mrs. 
Carrie M. Walker, V.-Pres., 342 Vance; 
Mrs. Stella B. Williams, Secretary, 319 
S. Fouth. 

Ladies’ Missionary Union—Mrs. N. E. 
Whiteman, Pres., 599 Polk; Mrs. Geo. 
Byram, V.-Pres., 276 S. Orleans. 

Ruth Circle—Mrs. L. F. Branch, Pres., 
707 Simmons; Mrs. C. A. Terrell, First 
V.-Pres., 612 E. Georgia; Mrs. C. J. 
Neal, Second V.-Pres., 752 Dixon; Mrs. 
A. F. Ward, Secretary, 599 E. Polk. 
Sojourner Truth—Mrs. Edwards, Pres. 






172 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Coal and Wood 






w. 


Bell H. Smith 

WILLIE BELL & CO., 

• •• 

COAL, WOOD AND KINDLING. 
Short Orders, Quick Delivery, 
Only Colored Coal Dealers who 
Buy in Car Lots, open early 
and late. Will deliver from 
10c worth up. 

• •• 

New Phone 2163. 

246 S. Rayburn. Memphis, Tenn. 


* 

f 

: 

? 

I 

I 

4 


f 
{ 

f 

: 

4 


Allen, Henry .628 Walker 

Bell, Willie & Co.246 S. Rayburn 

Bond, N. W.Jones & Belt Line 

Brown, Alex.265 Gayoso 

Carney, W. C.28 S. Fourth 

Colbert, T. C.State & Marble 

Coleman, C. C... Pontotoc, near Rayburn 

Davis, Patrick .183 Mill 

Fleming, P. F.268 Winchester 

Graham, John .543 S. Third 



JACK POWELL 


Green, Joseph .17 S. Wellington 

Lane, Arthur .384 S. Second 

Moore, Sam.236 Winchester 

Moore, Wright .368 Beale 

Mr. Moore is a wealthy capitalist, and 
is largely interested in the coal busi¬ 
ness. He merits the patronage and best 
wishes of his many friends. 

Powell, Jack .369 S. Cynthia 






N. W. BOND 
COAL COMPANY 

SELL 

THE BEST 

KENTUCKY COAL. 


General Office and Yard. Jones 
Ave. and Belt Line. 

I New Phone 838. Memphis, Tenn. 


i 

4 





















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


173 


• • 

f Yard: New Phone 2480. 

JACK POWELL, 1 

I WOOD, COAL AND KINDLING. f 

| Prompt service and full weight | 
| guaranteed. Special attention | 
f given to small orders. Also Car- ! 
| riages, Moving Vans, Express and ; 
| Baggage Wagons. All Calls Re- t 

f ceive Prompt Attention.- i 

* 

Office: 369 S. Cynthia St. 
i MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. ! 

f '• 


Mr. Powell is one of our most promis¬ 
ing young men and is well and favor¬ 
ably known by a host of friends. He 
has a line of hacks in service, a lucra¬ 
tive position with the Gayoso Hotel, and 
a coal and wood business that enables 
him to supply the wants of his many 
friends. Telephone. 

Ray, Robert .219 S. Third 

Robinson, B.282 Auction 

Thornton, Louis .265 Gayoso 

Walker, Alex.208 Calhoun 

Watson, Henry .547 Mississippi 

Wilson, Benjamin. .. .S. 2d & E. Butler 
Woods, Henry .333 Gayoso 


Coffee Roasters 


Harrison, Henry ....P. J. Moran & Co. 

Mr. Harrison is a finished artist in 
the coffee roasting business, and has 
been for many years an employe of the 
P. J. Moran Co. He is a talented, in¬ 
dustrious young man and a credit to 
the race. He has always been quiet 
and gentlemanly, and his every action 
bespeaks the splendid character of the 
family of which he is a member. 


Miller, Eugene . Dean-Lilly 

Mr. Miller is a young man of ability. 
He is an engineer of great experience 
and skill. He is an all around genius 
and has one or two valuable inventions 
to his credit. He is very ambitious and 
will no doubt achieve distinction as an 
inventor and general mechanic. He is 
happily married and has bright pros¬ 
pects, both for the accumulation of 
wealth and for usefulness to his race. 


Confectioners 


Boyd, W. W.1286 Johnson Fisher, J. L.367 Beale 


*- 

i 


W. W. BOYD, 

1286 Johnson Avenue, ? 

Memphis, Tenn. ! 


A Nice Place to Come and Get 
Something Good to Eat, 

Lunches, Fresh Candies, Fruits, 
Cold Drinks and Ice Cream. 


i 


Reasonable Prices. Good Treat¬ 
ment. WELCOME. 


».*P 


? MR. AND MRS. J. L. FISHER | 
Fruits, Candies & Confectioneries, ? 
Ice Cream at all seasons. 

Cold Drinks of all Kinds. 1 
Hot Fish. 

367 Beale St., Memphis, Tenn. | 

Hicks, E. D.382 S. Second 

Martin, Ed. B.Lane and Ayres 

THE WHITE HOUSE. | 

Ice Cream and Soda Parlor. i 
ED. B. MARTIN, Proprietor. | 
Lane and Ayres St., | 

l Memphis, .... Tenn. • 

? • 




















174 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Conley, Cheatham 
Johnson, Wm..., 

Jones, Foster. 

Jones, Wm. 


Coopers 


..417 Leath Maxwell.R. 64 Suzette 

. Plum Mitchell, James H.Lee Bros. 

875 Darnell O’David, Thos.180 W. Railroad 


564 Highmans Vernon, John_Patterson Transfer Co. 


Corset Makers 


Somers, Georgia, Mrs.Unknown 

We are reliably informed that Mrs. 
Somers is very proficient in her line of 
business. 

Thomas, Ella D.624 St. Paul 

Miss Thomas is prepared to make to 


order for her patrons the most elegant 
styles of this most necessary auxiliary 
to womanly beauty. Miss Thomas is 
a very accomplished young woman and 
does well everything that she under¬ 
takes. 


Cotton Samplers 


The cotton industry has been since 
the beginning of this country the foun¬ 
dation of the wealth of the South and 
the colored man has always been a po¬ 
tential factor in the development of 
this great industry. His presence in 
this country in such large numbers is 
due to this industry, for the conditions 
prevailing before the Civil War made 
the production of cotton very profitable 
with slave labor. 

In the cotton sampling business in 
Memphis the colored people have always 
played a leading part. Most all of the 
sampling is done by colored men, and 
a great deal of the classing is done by 
them. 

The cotton industry has always been 
one of the most profitable sources of 
revenue for colored workmen, and many 
of them by thrift and energy have ac¬ 
cumulated considerable property. Some 
of them have been steadily employed 
in this industry for many years, and 


one at least, Mr. Bridges, has been em¬ 
ployed in it for over forty years. 

The serious problem that confronts 
the colored people in this city is, who 
will succeed these veterans in this busi¬ 
ness when they will have passed into 
the great beyond? Our young men do 
not seem interested in the business, not¬ 
withstanding the fact that they can 
earn more in it than they can earn in 
most of the other fields of labor. If 
the young colored men do not take to 
the business and prepare themselves to 
succeed their fathers only a short time 
will elapse before this profitable source 
of revenue will be taken out of the 
hands of the colored people and ab¬ 
sorbed by the whites. A note of warn¬ 
ing is timely unless we wish to lose 
a profitable field of employment. 

Anderson, Foster.375 Walnut 

Anderson, Lee.958 Poplar 

Atkinson, Thos.102 S. Front 

Booth, Philip..695 Polk 




















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


175 


Bridges, P.348 Dupree 

Mr. Bridges has had an experience of 
forty years in the cotton sampling busi¬ 
ness and is considered an authority in 
the same. The question of serious im¬ 
portance is, who will succeed in the cot¬ 
ton business these veteran men? 

Cash, John.St. John 

Conelly, Henry. Unknown 

Dean, Wm.W. A. Gage & Co. 

Edwards, S. W. 866 V 2 Hawley 

Gaines, H. C.733 S. Orleans 

Mr. Gaines is an experienced cotton 
man and a worthy and an estimable 
gentleman. He is a sincere friend and 
brother, and is incapable of anything 
that is mean and low. He is a believer 
in the power of intelligence, both in 
church and in state, and has done much 
to promote its cause in this community. 

Haley, Thos.705 S. Orleans 

Hunt, Caleb.32 N. Front 

Hunt, Wesley.R. 612 Beale 

Johnson, James.1203 Arkansas 

Johnson, John.Woolfender & Co. 

Jones, Jerry. .Wellington and Mississippi 

King, Chas. Unknown 

Lewis, 0. S.585 S. Dudley 

Mr. Lewis is a cotton man of long and 
expert experience. He is a general con¬ 
tractor in the business and enjoys the 
confidence and esteem of some of the 
most prominent cotton buyers and ex¬ 
porters. He is prominently identified 
with the Masonic fraternity and has 
done much to elevate and perpetuate the 
principles of Masonry in this community. 
He is a pleasant, courteous, amiable 
gentleman and has a host of friends 
that are interested in his personal wel¬ 
fare. 

Love, John.Dillard and Coffin 

Mr. Love has been identified with the 


house of Dillard & Coffin for over thirty- 
five years and enjoys their confidence 
and esteem to an extent not enjoyed by 
any other colored man. His business is 
confined to the cotton room and he is a 
master of it from a to z. He is one of 
the most lovable men in Memphis, and 
has not of his own making a single 
enemy in the world. 

Maclin, Henry.White 

Maddox, Jim.559 Mississippi 

McKissack, C. H.401 Calhoun 

Moss, Dennis.814 Penna 

Mr. Moss is an experienced cotton 
man and an old and respected citizen of 
this city. He is a patron of education 
and the head of an interesting family. 

Neely, J. W.123 Wellington 

Mr. Neely is a cotton man of experi¬ 
ence and a kind and affable gentleman. 
He is a lover of music, and for years 
was a member of the leading colored 
band of Memphis. He is a charming 
alto player and ranks with the best in 
the country. 

Roberts, Robert.721 Porter 

Rogers, Ferdinand.172 Van Buren 

Smith, Jas. W.12 N. Front 

Smith, Robert.32 N. Front 

Smith, Wm.S. Front 

Taylor, Thos.414 N. Dunlap 

Thompson, Jas.... 1315 Adams Extended 

Townsend, Edward.327 Ashland 

Trent, Joseph.12 N. Front 

Washington, J. H.539 Mississippi 

Williams, H. J.670 S. Orleans 

Williams, Tobe.169 Georgia 

Mr. Williams is a very capable and 
experienced cotton man. He is, also, one 
of the leading 'Masons of the state of 
Tennessee and has received the highest 
honors of the fraternity. 































176 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Dairymen 


Boxley, M. H.L. & N. R. R. 

Dixon, N.Hernando Road 

Mr. Dixon is probably the oldest dairy¬ 
man in Memphis in length of continued 
service, having been connected with the 
business for more than forty years. He 


is a highly respected, Christian gentle¬ 
man and enjoys the best wishes of all 
classes of citizens. His name is a syno¬ 
nym for respect and honor, and no other 
man is more sincerely respected and 
loved. 


Doctors of Dental Surgery 


Bell, G. P.196 S. Second 

i 


4 

I 

I 

! 


t 


Office Hours: 

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

DR. G. P. BELL, B.S., L.L.B. 
Dentist. 

New Phone 3128. 

196 S. Second St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


Kennedy, H. H.159 Beale 




»p.«.. .a..*..a..*.a..*.. 

Clark, J. C.323 Beale 




Old and New Phones 424. 

Residence: 666 Pontotoc St. 

DR. H. H. KENNEDY, 

Dentist. 

Hours: 8-12 m., 1-5:30 p.m. 

159 Beale Ave. 

Memphis, Tenn. 

a«a«a»a»a»a"a"a»a-a-a.-a-a-a..a.-a-a..a«a»a»a.-a»a»a.^. 


Nicholson, Walter D.274 N. Main 


^.•..a..a»a..a..a..a..a..a..a‘.a..a..a..a..a-a..a..a.*a..a..a..a.*a..a.^« *I«.a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..«..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a.*|« 


Office: New Phone 2998. 
Residence: New Phone 2598. 

DR. J. C. CLARK, 

Dentist. 

Hours. 

Week days, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

323 Beale Avenue, 
Memphis, Tenn. 


i Office Hours: 

f 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 2-6 p.m. 

| New Phone 1123. 

• Cum. Main 4594. 

WALTER D. NICHOLSON, 

| Dentist. 

? 274 North Main St., 

• 

• Memphis, Tenn. 

^..a..a«a»a..a..a..a..a-.a..a..a..a«a..a..a..a..»..a..a..a-*..a~a..i 


•* 


i.'.-a--a'-a--»- »'-»--»--»•■*■•»••••••- o -a- o--a--a--a--a--a -a--a--o--«--G 

Fields, D. W.134y 2 S. Main 

« • 

i Office Hours: t 

9 to 12 a.m., 1 to 6 p.m. ? 


Nicholson, A. L.168 Beale 


f 


DR. D. W. FIELDS, 
Dental Rooms. 

134 S. Main St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


Office Hours: Memphis Phone 

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1771. 

A. L. NICHOLSON, 
Dentist. 

168 Beale Ave., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


►J..a..a..a..a..a~a..a-a..a..a~a..a~a~a..a-a..*..a..a..a..a..a..a..a.^. 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


177 


Steward, John H».541 S. Third 


New Phone 359. Office Hours. 8 a.m. to 12:30 

p.m.; 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

DR. JOHN H. SEWARD, 

Dentist. 


541 Hernando St., cor. South St. 
At night by appointment. 


i 


Memphis, Tenn. • 




Doctors of Medicine 


Adams, R. L.358 Beale Bryant, Wm. P.593 S. Wellington 






Phones: 

Office, New 2920; Res. 2078. 

1 Office, Main 4255A. 1 

? Office Hours: ? 

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ? 

2 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. i 

DR. R. L. ADAMS, ? 

| Physician and Surgeon. 

I 358 Beale Avenue, | 

| Memphis, Tenn. • 

Atkins, G. W.308 Poplar 

**•---*- - * 

? Office Hours: | 

: 9 to 11 a.m; 2 to 5 p.m. i 

• and at night. f 

f Office Phones: | 

I New 1964; Old 4261A. 

DR. G. W. ATKINS, | 

Physician and Surgeon. • 

1113 Kimbro St., | 

Memphis, Tenn. | 

308 Poplar St., upstairs. 


Office Hours: 

8 to 10 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m. 
and at night. 

New Phone 1626. 


DR. W. C. BAILEY, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

2 Office and Residence—Silver Age 
avenue, near Horn, Lake road. 

| Memphis, Tenn. 


• • 

• New Phone 879. • 

DR. WM. P. BRYANT, 

2 593 S. Wellington St., | 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

T Office Hours—10 tol2 a.m.; 2 to ? 

i 4; 6 to 8 p.m. i 

’• 4 

Burchett, A. S. J.144 S. Main 

Office Hours: 

9 to 10 a.m.; 5'to 6 p.m. 

Both Phones 242. 

DR. A. S. J. BURCHETT, 

Office, 144 S. Main St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 




Bailey, W. C.Silver Age 


Byas, A. D.374 N. Main 

• 

f Office Hours: 

1 9 to 11 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; 6 to 

| 7 p.m. 

2 Phones: 

New 1123; Old 4594; Residence, 

• New 556. 

I DR. A. D. BYAS, 

1 Residence, 191 Greenlaw Ave. 

2 274 N. Main St., Memphis, Tenn. 




















178 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Colley, M. M.913 Florida 


*■ 

f 

i 

: 

i 

: 

: 

: 

i 


Office Hours: ft 

9 to 12 a.m.; 1 to 4 p.m.; 6 to ? 
8 p.m. | 

Phones: f 

Residence, New 1280. 

Office, New 1280. | 

DR. M. M. COLLEY, | 

Physician and Surgeon. ? 

Diseases of the skin and scalp, • 
and diseases of women and chil- | 
dren given special attention. ft 

Office, 913 Florida St., ? 

| Residence, 913 Florida St. * 

ft Memphis, Tenn. • 

Craigen, Ed. C.168 Beale 


* 


f Office Hours: 

l 9 to 12 a.m.; 2 to 4 and 8 to 

• 9 p.m. 

f Residence Phone 1577. 

I EDWARD CRAIGEN, A.M., M.D., 

I Office, 168 Beale St., 

| Memphis, Tenn. 

7 New Phone 1771. 

DeLoney, A. B.362 Beale 

Office Hours: ? 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 4 p.m. to 6 j 

p.m. | 

Phones: ? 

Office, New 257. 
f Residence, New 275. 

• DR. J. L. DeLONEY, 

• 

j 361 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 

| Residence, 894 S. Third St. | 

Dunn, G. W..,.358 Beale 






Office Hours: 

8 to 11 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m. 

Phones: 

Office, New 2920. 

Residence, 1577. 

| DR. G. W. DUNN, 

ft Physician and Surgeon. 

• Office, 358 Beale Avenue, • 

All calls promptly answered. f 
| 329 Decatur St., Memphis, Tenn. | 


Hairston, J. C.323 Beale 

i Office Hours: | 

I 10 to 12 a.m.; 4 to 6 p.m. f 
l Phones: t 

• Office, 2998; Residence, 1533. ! 

| J. C. HAIRSTON, ! 

| Physician and Surgeon. | 

| Office, 323 Beale Avenue, | 

• Residence, 628 Orleans St., ft 

f Memphis, Tenn. ? 

Hall, A. L.159 S. Second 

»p. 

| DR. A. L. HALL, l 

| Physician and Surgeon. | 

| Office Hours: ? 

i 9 to 10 a.m.; 4 to 5 p.m. 1 

f New Phone 1967. • 

• Office, 159 S. Second St., 1 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

Henderson, L. S.362 Beale 

DR L. S. HENDERSON, 
i Physician and Surgeon. | 

t «» 

\ Office Hours: i 

| 8 to 10 a.m.; 12 to 2 p.m.; 4 to ? 

j 6 p.m. I 

f Phones: Office, New 257; Resi- ? 

f dence, New 2820. ft 

I Office, 362 Beale Ave., 

| Residence, 1061 S. Orleans St. f 

| Memphis, Tenn. I 

Henderson, N. H. C.41 N. Second 

• Office Hours: ft 

• 9 a.m. to 12 m.; 2 to 9 p.m. | 

f New Phone 1744. f 

T DR N. H. C. HENDERSON, | 

ft Physician and Surgeon. ! 

| Office 41 N. Second St, • 

| ’ Memphis, Tenn. | 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


179 


Hoover, J. J.913 Florida Jenkins, J. H.257 Poplar 


Office Hours: 

9 to 11 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; 6 to 
7:30 p.m. 

Phones: 

Residence, - 

Office, New 1280. 

DR. J. J. HOOVER, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Diseases of the genito urinary 
organs. Women and children 
given special attention. 

Office, 913 Florida St. 
Residence, 1093 Florida St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


Hunt, R. M.812 S. Main 

Office Hours: f 

• 

8:30 to 10 a.m.; 2 to 3 p.m.; ? 
5 to 7 p.m. | 


DR. R. M. HUNT, * 

f Office and Residence, 812 S. Main ? 

Street, | 

Memphis, Tenn. I 


l 


New Phone 2329. 


Office, 668 S. Main St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 
Residence, 598 St. Paul St. 


6 to 


Office Hours: 

9 to 11 a.m.; 3 to 5 p.m 
7 p.m. ? 

Phones: I 

• Office, New 2027; Residence, * 

I New 1622, Old Main 2185. I 

\ DR. J. H. JENKINS, 

Physician and Surgeon. | 

| Office, 257 Poplar Ave., f 

£ Memphis, Tenn. | 

f Residence, • 

t • 

►t.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a .. a .. a ., a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a ,. a ..j. 

Kittrell, A. N.325 Beale 


Office Hours: 

10-11:30 a.m.; 3-4 p.m.; 7-8 

p.m., and by appointment. 
Residence: 582 Chapin Place; 
Phone 1980. 

A. N. KITTRELL, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Office, 323 Beale Avenue, 

New Phone 2998. Memphis, Tenn. 


I 


a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..|. 


Irving, E. W.668 S. Main 

^•4~ a -«.. a - a *4.. a .. a .. a ..i.. a » a .. a ..(.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .> a .i a .i a « a .^. 

i i 

f Phones. • 

Office 2514; Residence 1162. ! 

’ l 

Office Hours: 

11 to 12 a.m.; 2 to 3 p.m.; 6 to 
8 p.m. 

E. W. IRVING, M.D., 
Physician and Surgeon. 


I 

I 

Kneeland,-Fannie M.168 Beale 

^•. a .. a .. a .. a ^ a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..?. 

Hours: 

10 to 12 a.m.; 2 to 5 p.m. 

| Phones. Office, New 1771; Resi- f 
i dence, New 1363. f 

I DR. FANNIE M. KNEELAND, j 
Physician and Surgeon. 

• Office, 168 Beale Ave., 1 

? Residence, 615 St. Paul ‘Ave. ? 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

.j,. a ««..t.. a » a .. a .. a .. a >. a .. a »tH a » a « a >. a ~ a »*H a « a »*» a .. a .. a .. a .^< 

Luster, W. H.168 Beale 


I 


f 




^.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .- a - a .. a » a .. a ^ a » a - a » a .. a .. a » a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .^« 


• 

Hours: 10 to 12 a.m. 4 to 5 p.m. ? 
Phones: Office, New 1771; Resi- ! 
dence, New 2439. I 

DR. W. H. LUSTER, ! 

: 

Diseases of women and children i 
a specialty. f 

Office, 168 Beale Ave., 
Residence, 389 S. Cynthia, | 
Memphis, Tenn. | 












180 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Martin, R. G.274 N. Main 

| Phones: New, 1123; Old, 4594 2 
f Main. J 

I Office Hours: • 

• 10:30 to 12:30 a.m.; 3 to 5 p.m. ? 


DR. R. G. MARTIN, 

274 N. Main, Memphis, Tenn. 


Martin, W. S.763 Florida I 


I 






Office Hours: 

8 to 10 a.m.; 12 to 2 p.m.; 5 to 
7 p.m. 

Phones: Office, New 555; Resi¬ 
dence, New 1636. 

DR. WM. S. MARTIN, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Office, corner of Florida Ave. and 
Broadway, 

Residence, corner of Fields Ave. 
and Horn, Lake Road. 
Special attention paid to dis¬ 
eases of the eye, ear, nose and 
throat, and diseases of women 
and children. 

Memphis, Tenn. 


McCoy, A. G.71 W. Illinois 

? Hours: 9-12 m.; 3-4 p.m.; 7-8 p.m. £ 
| Phone 1466. | 

| A. G. McCOY, M.D., 

I Physician and Surgeon. | 

• Office, 343% Beale Ave., £ 
? Residence, 71 W. Illinois Ave., ! 

£ Memphis, Tenn. i 


McCully, A. C.310 N. Main 

1 Hours. 9 to 12 a. m.; 3 to 5 p.m. 2 
• Phones: Office, New 2057; Resi- f 

? dence, New '828. ? 

DR. A. C. M’CULLY, 

? Physician and Surgeon. T 

' Office, 310 N. Main, 

: Residence, Jones Ave., new Chi- ? 

cago. i 

7 Memphis, Tenn. £ 




McKissack, A. C.196 S. Second 

? Office Hours: 11 to 12 a.m.; 3 to ? 
i 4 p.m.; 7 to 8 p.m. i 

? New Phone 3128. f 

s Electrical Treatments; X-ray ex- | 

• aminations. i 

DR. A. C. M’KISSACK, A.M., £ 

l Physician and Surgeon. | 

? Office, 196 S. Second St. (or cor- • 

| ner Beale and Second, upstairs.) 7 
? Consultation Free. | 

Residence, 619 Wicks Ave., • 
Night calls promptly answered. | 

McNeace, A.Broad and Scott 

.T,. s . 

£ Hours: 8 to 10 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; ? 

| 6 to 7 p.m. | 

£ New Phones: Residence -; Of- £ 

fice -. | 

! DR. A. M’NEACE, i 

• Physician and Surgeon. 

? Diseases of women and children \ 

i a specialty. • 

£ Office, Broad and Scott Ave., 7 

? Binghamton, Tenn. | 

Miller, Dublin B.1240 Jackson 

? Office Hours: 8-12 a.m.; 2-4 p.m.; £ 

1 7-8 p.m. I 

£ Phone: 3377-Y Maine. 

: Residence: 821 Olympic. 

DR. D. B. MILLER, ! 

2 Physician and Surgeon. £ 

1 Klondyke office, | 

£ 825 Claybrook Ave., • 

2 Memphis, Tenn. 2 

• Special attention paid to dis- i 

? eases of women and children; £ 

2 treat eye, ear, nose and throat. 2 

^,.i..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a~a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a~a..a-a..a»a..|.>j* 

Nesbit, E. E.105 Poplar 

»£«.a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..*..a..*.*J« 

f Hours. 8 to 10 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; 2 

2 8 to 9 p.m. 2 

• Phones: Office, New 2010; Resi- » 

2 dence, New 1523. 2 

1 DR. E. E. NESBIT, i 

£ Physician and Surgeon. 

4 Office and residence cor. Poplar | 

• and Main Streets. • 

Special attention paid to dis- 2 

2 eases of women, eye, ear, nose | 

? and throat. 7 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 













THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS 


181 


Newman, F. R.15 W. Illinois Ruffin, B. L.271 N. Main 

f Hours. 10 to 12 m.; 2 to 4 p.m. ? 
| Phones: Office, New 2057; Resi- | 
i dence, New 2653. 1 

I DR. B. L. RUFFIN, 

• Physician and Surgeon. 

? Special attention paid to dis- 

i eases of women and children. 

• Office, 273 N. Main, 

| Residence, Maple and Woodlawn. 

• Memphis, Tenn. 


Hours: 

8-10 a.m.; 1-3 p.m.; 5-8 p.m. 
New Phone 1466. 

DR. F. R. NEWMAN, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Office and residence, 15 W. 
Illinois. 

Diseases of women and children 
a specialty. 

Memphis, Tenn. 


PATTERSON, L. G.159 Beale Ave. 


* 


Office Hours: 8-10 a.m.; 2-4 p.m. 
Phones: Office, 424; Residence, 
2032. 

DR. L. G. PATTERSON, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Office, 159 Beale Ave., 
Residence, 798 Williams Ave., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


I 


Shelby, C. H.410 Beale 

| Office Hours: 10-11 a.m.; 2-3 p.m.; f 




t 


i 

■I- 

Pinkston, G. F.274 N. Main 

•2». 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 „ 9 .„ 


6-8 p.m. 

Hours at Residence: 7-9 a. m.; 
4-5 p.m. 

DR. CHAS. H. SHELBY, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Office, 410 Beale Ave., New Phone 
377. 

Residence, 1365 Adelaide St., cor. 
Love Ave.; New Phone 947. 
Memphis, Tenn. 


I 




9 .. 9 .. 9 ~ 9 .. 9 ~ 9 ~ 9 ~ 9 ~ 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 „ 9 „ 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 „0~ 9 ., 

Phones: 

Office, New 1123, Old 4594. 
Residence, New 321. 

DR. G. F. PINKSTON, 

Office, 274 N. Main St., 

Office Hours: 10-12 a.m.; 3-5 p.m. 
Residence, 1150 Park St., 
Memphis, Tenn. 


•v 


Prater, W. T.345 Beale 


I 

Terrell, C. A.159 Beale 

►-••a"#..#..#.-#..#..#-'#..#-'#'.#..#..#.-#"#..#..#.-#..#..#..#..#..#..#-*-* 

? Office Hours: 9 to 11 a.m.; 4 to : 

I 6 p.m.; 2 to 5 p.m.; at 159 | 
? Beale. • 

? Phones: Office, 424; Residence, | 
i 291. £ 

| DR. C. A. TERRELL, ? 

Physician and Surgeon, 
f Office and Infirmary, 159 Beale f 
i Ave. I 

? Residence, 612 Georgia Ave., • 

? Memphis, Tenn. 


** i - 9 » 9 - 9 : 9 ~ 9 - 9 .' 9 : 9 : 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 .. 9 : 9 .. 9 ...Thompson, A. L..274 N. Main 


Office Hours: 10 to 12 a.m.; 3 to 
6 p. m. New Phone, 2081. 

DR. W. T. PRATER, 
Physician and Surgeon. 

Diseases of women and gyneco- 
locigal surgery a specialty. 

Office, 34314 Beale Ave., 
Residence, Orange Mound, 
Memphis, Tenn. 


I Office Hours: 9 to 11 a.m.; 3 to 

• 5 p.m.; 7 to 8 p.m. 

| nes: Office, New 1123, Old 4594; 

| Residence, New 2050. 

| DR. A. L. THOMPSON, 

f Physician and Surgeon. 

| Residence, 232 N. Dunlap St., 

• Memphis, Tenn. 

Office, 274 N. Main St. 

? T 

•l* 9 n 9 tt 9 n 9 n 9 m 9 n 9 n 9 n 9 M 9 - 9 m 9 m 9 „ 9 M 9 M 9 m 9 * 9 m 9 n 9 n 9 M 9 m 9 u 9 t»1m 
















182 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Williams, G. L.541 S. Third 

t-+ 

: Office Hours: 10-12 a.m.; 2-4 p.m. f 
i Office. New Phone 359. f 

| DR. G. L. WILLIAMS, ! 

i 541 S. Third St., 4 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

Winchester, J. W.542 S. Third 

| Phone 359. | 

f Office Hours: 9 to 11 a.m.; 2 to T 
| 3 p.m.; 6 to 8 p.m. i 

! DR. J. W. WINCHESTER, I 
Physician and Surgeon. | 

| Office and Residence, 542 S. 3d St. • 
• Memphis, Tenn. | 


Woods, W. B.945 N. Second 


f 

| Hours: 9 to 10 a.m.; 12 to 2 p.m.; 
? 5 to 6 p.m. 

Office: New Phone 1606. 






DR W. B. WOODS, 

Physician and Surgeon. 

Special attention paid to dis¬ 
eases of women. 

Office, 945 N. Second St. 
Residence, 1452 Irene, | 

Memphis, Tenn. | 


Dressmakers 


Alexander, Mattie, Mrs.317 Gayoso 

The lady referred to above served a 
long apprenticeship under one of the 
most competent dressmakers that ever 
lived in Memphis, and is no doubt one 
of the best artists in her profession in 
the city. 

Bell, Sarah, Mrs.317 Queen 

Mrs. Bell is recommended to the au¬ 
thor as being a first-class dressmaker, 
and there is no doubt she can deliver 
the goods. 

Brogan, Carrie, Mrs.N. Third 

Mrs. Brogan is well-known as an ar¬ 
tistic and experienced dressmaker and 
one of the leaders in her line of work. 

Bowles, Susan, Mrs.732 S. Leach 

Mrs. Bowles is an experienced and 
competent dressmaker and any work en¬ 
trusted to her care will receive careful 
and painstaking effort. 

Brown, Emma E., Miss. .. .21 S. Orleans 
Miss Brown is a talented dressmaker 
and materially assisted the writer by 
giving him information concerning com¬ 
petent dressmakers. 


Brown, Lizzie, Mrs.257 N. Dunlap 

Mrs. Brown has ability and experience 
happily combined and can give satisfac¬ 
tion to her patrons. 

Buckner, Hattie, Mrs.Chicago 

A splendid reputation in the dress¬ 
maker’s art has Mrs. Buckner. 

Cameron, Delia, Mrs... .284 S. Rayburn 
For years Mrs. Cameron has been one 
of the leading dressmakers of Memphis. 
She enjoys a large patronage and has 
no superiors. 

Claiborne, Laura, Mrs.678 Williams 

The lady referred to above is a dress¬ 
maker of experience and ability, and is 
up-to-date as an artist in her line. 

Cole, Tenie, Mrs.73 Henry 

Mrs. Cole is well-known in her section 
of the city as a stylish and experienced 
dressmaker. 

Copeland, L. M., Mrs.890 Michigan 

Mrs. Copeland has a splendid reputa¬ 
tion as a finished dressmaker. Her work 
is satisfactory and up-to-date, and her 
patronage is large. 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


183 


Cotton, Susie A., Mrs.348 Manassas 

Mrs. Cotton classes up with the best 
in her profession. Her name is Cotton, 
but the quality of her work may be 
■called silk. 

Daniels, Emma, Mrs.347 Decatur 

The Daniels family is so talented and 
accomplished that it isn’t known that 
Mrs. Daniels is one of the best dress¬ 
makers in Memphis. She lives in an at¬ 
mosphere of excellence and her work 
is the same. 

Delaney, Mary E., Mrs.Preston 

Mrs. Delaney took special training in 
the North preparing herself for thorough¬ 
ness in the dressmaker’s art, and she is 
•one of the best in the business. She is 
also a milliner. 

Dickerson, Lulu, Miss_609 E. Georgia 

The lady in question is very widely 
and favorably known as a first-class 
dressmaker, and is in such great demand 
among the very best people of Memphis 
that she is unable to respond to every 
oall. 

Dickerson, Mrs.614 Beale 

Mrs. Dickerson is one of the most ex¬ 
perienced dressmakers in Memphis, and 
has taught this art to many of the 
younger generation. She still holds her 
own with the best of them. 

Eckles, Lettie, Mrs.653 Provine 

Mrs. Eckles is well known as a first- 
class dressmaker, and numbers among 
her patrons many of the best people 
of Memphis. She knows her art thor¬ 
oughly and always gets satisfactory re¬ 
sults. 

Evans, Callie, Mrs.841 Atlantic 

Mrs. Evans has a reputation as a 
competent and experienced dressmaker. 

Fletcher, Mollie, Mrs.Decatur 

Mrs. Fletcher ought to feel highly 
gratified because of the splendid repu¬ 
tation she has made in her profession. 

Franklin, Anna, Mrs.620 Orleans 

Mrs. Franklin is a seamstress of fine 
ability and long experience. For years 
her whole time has been taken up with 


the pressing demands of her patrons, 
who believe in her ability and think no 
other dressmaker can give the satis¬ 
faction that she does. 

Galloway, Allie, Mrs.964 Park 

Mrs. Galloway has mastered the dress¬ 
maker’s art and no one in the com¬ 
munity can successfully contest her su¬ 
premacy in her chosen profession. She 
is a real artist, and as a first-class 
dressmaker is more widely and favor¬ 
ably known than 'any other one in the 
city—so the author has been told. She 
has experience, ability, and skill of the 
highest order, and is able to make the 
wardrobe of a queen. She not only 
makes clothes to perfection but she de¬ 
signs them. She has such excellent taste 
and originality in her work that she is 
a Delineator in herself and does not 
need any suggestions from this popular 
book of fashion. 

Gilliland, Hannah, Mrs.Wellington 

The author has received complimen¬ 
tary reference to Mrs. Gilliland as a 
first-class artist. 

Gray, Martha, Mrs.633 St. Paul 

Mrs. Gray is well-known in the busi¬ 
ness of dressmaking. She can sew as 
well as her estimable husband can sing, 
and that is a very kind compliment to 
bestow. 

Hall, Mary, Mrs.952 McDowell 

Mrs. Hall is one of the pioneers in 
the dressmakers’ art. She taught scores 
of young women how to sew, and many 
of them are the best exponents in their 
line today. Mrs. Hall is a versatile 
woman and is referred to in another 
section of this book. 

Hampton, Viney, Mrs.446 Georgia 

Mrs. Hampton is one of the best 
seamstresses in the city, and nothing 
that we can say can do full justice to 
her ability. 

Harris, Lettie, Mrs.243 S. Orleans 

Mrs. Harris is known far and wide as 
one of the leading dressmakers of Mem¬ 
phis. She is a highly intelligent woman 
















184 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


and has the ability to master and has 
mastered all the details of the dress¬ 
makers’ art. 

Hudgins, Rosetta, Miss-405 E. Butler 

Miss Hudgins has been sewing for 
quite a while, and has gained ability 
and experience in her profession. She 
is a graduate of Kortrecht High School 
and a young woman accomplished in 
many ways. 

Henderson, Jennie, Mrs.Mosby 

The lady in question knows her busi¬ 
ness and enjoys a good reputation in 
her profession. 

Johnson, Alice, Mrs...369y 2 Wellington 

Mrs. Johnson is so well known by the 
best people of Memphis as one of our 
most stylish and artistic dressmakers 
that it is hardly necessary to make 
any extended reference to her skill. Her 
work is high class and always reflects 
credit upon her reputation. 

Jones, Wiley, Mrs.598 St. Paul 

No other dressmaker in Memphis 
stands higher in the estimation of the 
patrons of this art than Mrs. Jones, who 
is one of the best exponents of the art 
of dressmaking. She has had long ex¬ 
perience in this art and has gained a 
reputation as an expert in this business. 
Jones, Priscilla, Mrs.743 Orleans 

Mrs. Jones is one of our most experi¬ 
enced and competent dressmakers. Her 
services are in great demand among the 
best people of the community. She is 
the estimable mother of Prof. M. L. 
Jones, of Kortrecht Grammar School. 
Lanier, Callie, Mrs.21 S. Dudley 

Mrs. Lanier has been highly recom¬ 
mended to the author as an experienced 
and artistic dressmaker. 

Love, Anna, Mrs.718 Beale 

Mrs. Love is the estimable wife of that 
enterprising, popular, public-spirited cit¬ 
izen, Mr. John R. Love, and is one of 
the most stylish and up-to-date dress¬ 
makers in Memphis. Her creations are 
models of taste and elegance and cannot 
be surpassed. 


Lurk, E., Mrs.729 S. Leach 

Mrs. Lurk knows all the details of 
her business, and is a safe and reliable 
dressmaker. She knows how to do only 
first-class work, and that is what her 
patrons want. 

Lux, Lula, Mrs.611 Georgia 

Mrs. Lux has taste, skill and experi¬ 
ence. She is a splendid dressmaker and 
thoroughly understands her business. 

Martin, Hattie, Mrs.Cooper St. 

Out of the ordinary in ability and ex¬ 
perience in the dressmakers’ art is Mrs. 
Hattie Martin. She stands shoulder to 
shoulder with the leaders in her profes¬ 
sion. 

Mosely, Mollie, Miss.Jones Ave. 

Miss Mosely is a dressmaker of ex¬ 
perience and competence, and can be 
depended upon to give satisfaction. She 
has more than ordinary ability and is in 
touch with the most recent and up-to- 
date systems. 

Moses, Lillie, Mrs.58iy 2 Georgia 

One of the most artistic dressmak¬ 
ers in the whole city of Memphis is Mrs. 
Lillie Moses, who has been for years 
one of the best in the business. She is 
careful and conscientious in her work 
and whenever she completes a dress it 
is a finished product. 

Nevels, Fannie, Mrs.894 Mosby 

Mrs. Nevels is one of the shining 
lights in the dressmakers’ profession. 
She has experience, skill, and every 
requisite for a first-class dressmaker. 
Try her for splendid results. 

Newton, Wm., Mrs.625 S. Paul 

Mrs. Newton is a high-class dress¬ 
maker and is able to meet the require¬ 
ments of the ‘most exacting patrons. 
She has had long experience and train¬ 
ing and is able to get the best results 
in the dressmakers’ art. 

Owens, Rosa, Mrs.317 Gayoso 

Mrs. Owens has made a careful study 
of the dressmakers’ art and is one of its 
most proficient exponents. She has lived 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


185 


in an atmosphere of first-class dressmak¬ 
ing and it is second nature for her to 
be one of the best. 

Payne, Lena, Miss.Leath 

Splendid reports concerning Miss 
Payne’s ability as a dressmaker have 
been brought to the author, and judg¬ 
ing from them there can be no doubt 
that she is first-class in her art. 

Pegues, Mattie, Mrs.Jones 

The good people of New Chicago do 
not hesitate to refer in most glowing 
terms to Mrs. Pegues as being a first- 
class dressmaker, and such must be the 
case. 

Puckett, C. B., Mrs.257 Poplar 

Mrs. Puckett is not only an accom¬ 
plished dressmaker but she is an accom¬ 
plished woman in many other respects. 
She is versatile and equally proficient 
in every department of domestic science, 
and as a dressmaker she ranks with the 
best in the community. 

Roscoe, A., Mrs.678 McKinley 

This talented dressmaker is a recent 
acquisition to the profession in our city, 
but she has the ability to become widely 
known in a short time. She has had 
great experience elsewhere in her pro¬ 
fession and is a very capable dressmak¬ 
er. 

Sanders, Abbey, Mrs.951 Louisa 

It is good to be wise in some things, 
and especially in those things that re¬ 
quire intelligence and skill. Mrs. Sand¬ 
ers is wise in the dressmakers’ business 
and is one of its leading exponents. She 
has had years of experience and can 
truly deliver the goods in first-class 
style. 

Saunders, Sadie L., Miss.631 Polk 

Not only is Miss Saunders a first- 
class school teacher, but she is also a 
first-class dressmaker. She served a 
careful apprenticeship with some of the 
leading dressmakers of Memphis, and 
has the experience, skill and ability to 
do first-class work from start to finish. 


Smith, Sylvia, Mrs-574 S. Lauderdale 

Mrs. Smith has a splendid reputation 
as an all around dressmaker. She has 
followed the business for years, and is 
capable of doing the best. 

Stratton, Sallie, Mrs.586 St. Paul 

Mrs. Stratton comes well recommend¬ 
ed as a dressmaker of style and class. 
Her work is creditable and shows a 
thorough knowledge of her art. 

Taylor, Charlotte, Mrs..547 Dutro Place 
Mrs. Taylor is a lady of many gifts. 
She is not only a professional sick nurse, 
but she is professional seamstress and 
does the duties of both with credit and 
ability. She is one of the most experi¬ 
enced dressmakers we have, and has long 
and creditably followed that business. 

Thomas, Ella D., Miss_624 St. Paul 

Thomas, Nettie V., Miss. .624 St. Paul 
Misses Thomas are two of the most 
accomplished and versatile young women 
in the whole country. They are experi¬ 
enced cateresses, milliners, corset mak¬ 
ers and modistes, and take the first rank 
in each of these occupations. 

Tucker, Susie, Mrs.365 Ashland 

Mrs. Tucker’s name is suggestive of 
sewing and we are reliably informed 
that she is a splendid dressmaker. 

Vandyck, Sallie, Miss.615 Monroe 

Miss Vandyck is an accomplished 
woman and has gained great distinction 
in her art. She has a knowledge of all 
the systems of tailoring and is an expert 
in each. She has confidence in her 
ability and her patrons share her con¬ 
fidence by giving her generous patronage. 
Her creations are marvels in the dress¬ 
makers’ art and cannot be surpassed. 
Warren, Messie, Mrs....377 S. Cynthia 
Mrs. Warren is well known as a 
seamstress. She is an experienced and 
finished dressmaker and does the best 
kind of work. Her patrons believe in 
her. 

Webster, Rosa, Miss.917 N. Main 

Miss Webster is young in age, but 
old in ability as a dressmaker. She has 












186 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


a natural skill in her art and her work¬ 
manship is of the highest class. She is 
the coming dressmaker of Memphis and 
will make an indelible mark in her pro¬ 
fession. 

Weeden, Mattie, Mrs.302 Ashland 

Mrs. Weeden is one of the brightest 
wielders of the needle in Memphis. She 
has a splendid reputation as a seam¬ 
stress and her work is high class. 
Williams, D. C., Mrs.688 Williams 

Mrs. Williams is an expert in her line. 
She has a wide reputation as one of 
our leading dressmakers and is easily 
one of the best. 


Williams, Estelle, Mrs.S. Fourth 

Very excellent reports have been 
brought to the author about Mrs. Wil¬ 
liams’ ability as a dressmaker. She is 
rated with the best. 

Williams, Margaret J., Mrs..775 Speed 

Mrs. Williams is highly recommended 
by her friends as a dressmaker whose 
name is worthy to be placed among the 
most representative dressmakers in the 
community. 

Wright, Henrietta S., Miss..759 S. Or¬ 
leans. 

Miss Wright is very much right in 
her experience and ability as a first-class 
dressmaker and merits the patronage of 
all who wish good work at right prices. 


Drug Stores 


a..*.. 

? New Era Pharmacy, 327 Beale | 
• George R. Jackson, Proprietor. • 

| The Oldest Colored Drug Store ? 
| In the City of Memphis. i 

| Prescriptions f 

Carefully Compounded. ? 

Quick Service. • 

Phone 1466. f 

Mr. Jackson, the proprietor of the 
New Era Pharmacy, is in point of ex¬ 
perience the oldest colored druggist in 
Memphis. He is a man of scholarly 
attainments, having received his diplo¬ 
ma as a graduate from the collegiate 
department of Oberlin University. He 
graduated in pharmacy in the University 
of Michigan, and is one of the m<5st com¬ 
petent in the business. Before entering 
business life he was professor in one 
of the leading universities of the South 
and the teachers’ profession, no doubt, 
lost an able exponent when he elected 
to enter business life. He has been 
very successful in the drug business and 
is rated highly in business and financial 
-circles. 

North Memphis Drug Co...274 N. Main 



•H 

: 

i 




Dr. A. D. Byas, Pres. 

Dr. A. L. Thompson, Treas. 
Dr. G. F. Pinkston, Vice-Pres. 
Dr. G. L. Williams, Sec. 

W. A. Wallace, Pharmacist. 
Miss Nathalie Jenkins, 

Asst. Pharmacist. 

North Memphis Drug Co., Inc. 
274 N. Main St. 

New Phone 381, Old Phone 4594A. 
Capital Stock $5,000. 
Prescription Druggists, Drug 
Sundries, Toilet Articles, Soda 
Fountain and Cigars. 


J. A. Q. WILLIAMS. 


Connected with the Union Drug Co. in 
the capacity of president is Prof. J. A. 
Q. Williams, one of the most prominent 
citizens in this section of the South. 
For years he was a member of the fac¬ 
ulty of Rust University, Holly Springs, 
Mississippi, one of the foremost insti¬ 
tutions of learning in the entire country. 
He is identified with nearly every de¬ 
partment of race enterprise in the state 










THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


187 


of Mississippi, and is one of the best 
known citizens of that state. He is at 
the head of one of the great fraternities 
in that state—the Colored Woodmen of 
the World—and has safely guided this 
organization to a position of influence 
and power second to none. This or- 
ianization has flourished under his able 
management and now contests su¬ 
premacy with any other fraternal or¬ 
ganization in the state of Mississippi. 
He is largely interested in the material 
affairs of Memphis and has contributed 
his time and wealth toward developing 
them. It was through his energy and 
public-spirited enterprise that the Union 
Drug Co. was brought to Memphis. He 
has purchased considerable land and 
built several houses in Memphis in the 
past few years, and is now one of the 
city’s most substantial real estate own¬ 
ers. He is father of Dr. G. L. Williams, 
a practicing physician of this city, and 
has done a thousand things to promote 
his worthy son’s welfare. He is a jo¬ 
vial, hearty, cheerful, whole-souled gen¬ 
tleman blessed with great popularity 
and a host of friends. In his home town, 
Holly Springs, Miss., he has very val¬ 
uable property possessions, and is rated 
among its wealthiest citizens. Judging 
from his rapid rise to wealth, the day is 
not distant when he will be one of the 
wealthiest colored men in the South. 

H. W. Doxey.Holly Springs, Miss. 

One of the stockholders of the Union 
Drug Co., of this city, is Mr. H. W. 
Doxey, of Holly Springs, Miss., who is 
a leading merchant of that city. Mr. 
Doxey was formerly one of the best 
painters and decorators in his state, and 
enjoyed a patronage so vast that he 
could only with difficulty meet the de¬ 
mands made upon him. Having followed 
the painting business for many years he 
abandoned it to enter mercantile life, in 
which he has prospered. He is a safe, 
conservative and progressive business 
man with the happy faculty of knowing 


how and when to purchase his wares 
in order to realize the most profitable 
results. He is one of the leading mer¬ 
chants of Holly Springs and enjoys the 
respect of the men of both races. He 
is a reliable, straightforward, business 
man and can be depended upon to the 
letter. In the past few years he has 
built several houses in Memphis and has 
a great deal that is substantial to show 
how he has thrived in his business. He 
is a patron of learning and has given 
his children the best advantages of 
training. His daughter, Miss Nathalie 
Doxey, is head of the music department 
of Rust University and one of the most 
talented young women of the race. 


Union Drug Co.541 S. Third 

i i 

i 


J. A. Q. Williams, Pres. 


0. G. Fletcher, Sec. ? 

G. L. Bryant, Treas. f 

Dr. G. L. Williams, Business Mgr. f 


THE UNION DRUG CO. 

A New Colored Enterprise. 

Capital $5,000. 

New Phone 359. 

541 Hernando St. 

A complete line of Drugs and 
Medicines, Toilet Articles, Per¬ 
fumery, Brushes, and Cosmetics, 
in fact everything to be found in 
an up-to-date drug store. Our 
Soda Fountain is one of the finest 
in the South. Remember, our 
Prescription Department cannot 
be excelled. Free delivery. 

Open Day and Night. 





188 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Electricians 


Adwaters, W. D.93 S. Fourth 

• New Phone, 2433. $ 

| Old Phone 2510 Main. * 

l W. D. ADWATERS. ? 

-Jobber For- j 

| House Wiring, Burglar Alarms | 
| and Electric Bells. j 

? All Calls Propmptly Attended. f 

! 93 DeSoto St. Memphis. | 

Mr. Adwaters has done some splendid 
work in connection with his profession. 
He is a capable man and understands 
his business. 

Anderson, Nelson T. .Mem. Electric Co. 

Briggs, Wm.174 S. Third 

Eldridge, John .541 N. Manassas 

Goins, James .351 Beale 

Mr. Goins was a pioneer in the elec¬ 
trical business in Memphis. For several 
years he was actively engaged in the 
business and was considered one of the 
most expert colored electricians in Mem¬ 
phis. Mr. Goins always had a versatile 
mind and a bright intellect and had the 
ability to master anything that he at¬ 
tempted. He is a member of one of the 
finest families that ever lived in the 
State of Alabama, and on general prin¬ 
ciples is a fair and square man. 

Jones, Wm.Memphis Auto Co. 

Mr. Jones is an expert electrician of 
twenty years’ experience and one of the 
most capable men in the business. An 
electrical current must run in his blood, 
for he has a son, Master Freddie Jones, 
who though only 16 years of age is 
nearly as proficient in electricity as his 
father. 

Jordan, F. A.340 E. Beale 

Knox, Sanders.298 Ashland 

Mr. Knox is one of the mechanical 
wonders of Memphis. His mind seems 
comprehensive enough to take in all 


human knowledge. In addition to 
many other professions he is a skilled 
electrician and stands with the ablest 
in this profession. 

Robinson, Clark.Mem. L. & P. Co. 

“Little Clark Robinson,” as he is lov¬ 
ingly called by his friends, is one of the 
best known citizens of Memphis. He is 
an electrician of long experience and 
great ability. He is also an engineer, 
having served partly in that capacity 
on the river for several years. He is 
the only colored man employed in the 
dynamo room of the Memphis Light & 
Power Co., and is one of its most valued 
and trusted employes. 

Strong, Thos.356 Sanford 

THOS. STRONG, ; 

| General Repairing, Bells and ? 
| Lights, Wiring for Lights i 
? and Fans. ? 

! SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. ? 

? Mempis, Tenn. i 

f New Phone: Old Phone: | 

l 1917. 3062-Y I 

Mr. Strong is a recent comer to the 
city of Memphis, but in the short time 
since his arrival he has demonstrated 
that he is an electrician of the first or¬ 
der. He is a real electrician, and is con¬ 
versant with every department of elec¬ 
trical work. 

Walker, Conner .With Henniger 

Mr. Walker is an experienced electric¬ 
ian and at one time he constructed an 
automobile which he successfully drove 
around town for some time. 

Walker, Leonard .150 Commerce 

Mr. Walker would be both surprised 
and pleased to know the many friends 
that kindly gave me information con¬ 
cerning his ability as an electrician. 
Mr. Walker seems to be in a class by 
himself as an electrician. 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


189 


Engineers, Licensed 


Adair, T. M.Merchants Elevator 

Mr. Adair is a regular licensed en¬ 
gineer and a man of ability in his pro¬ 
fession. He ranks with the best in the 
business in expertness and skill. Mr. 
Adair is very widely known as a first- 
class engineer and the author heard of 
him wherever the author went in search 
of information for this book. 

Coleman, Thos.Floyd’s 

Mr. Coleman is one of the leading 
licensed engineers of the city of Mem¬ 
phis. He holds a first-class license which 
entitles him to run any engine that 
may be constructed. There is no plant 
in the world that is beyond his author¬ 
ity to run. He is one of the most ver¬ 
satile mechanics in Memphis and has 
achieved distinction in more than one 
branch of the mechanical arts. His 
whole life has been one great school of 
mechanical application and it is doubt¬ 
ful if any other man in Memphis is 
wiser on general principles of mechanics 
than Mr. Coleman. It was the happy 
privilege of the writer in early youth 
to attend school with him, and the 
writer even then noticed the diligence 
and industry of the gentleman in ques¬ 
tion and is not at all surprised at Mr. 
Coleman’s pronounced success in his pro¬ 
fession. 

Haynes, Jimmie. .Dan Shea Boiler Wks. 

Mr. Haynes seems to be a favorite 
among his fellow engineers who take 
pleasure in praising his ability as a 
first-class mechanic. His name was 
mentioned to the author a hundred times 
and the author is delighted to refer to 
Mr. Haynes in this book as one of the 
most efficient engineers in Memphis. 
Leatherman, John... .Orpheum Theater 
Mr. Leatherman is as strong in en¬ 
gineering ability as he is in name. He 
has ability of a very high order in his 
profession and commands the admira¬ 
tion of his many friends. 


Miller, Eugene.Dean-Lilly Co. 

Mr. Miller is a very ambitious young 
man and earnestly desires to succeed in 
his profession which he has so thor¬ 
oughly mastered. He has a valuable 
library on the science of engineering and 
has pursued with gratifying results the 
study of the books of this library. He 
is an all-round mechanical genius and 
has kindly assisted the writer in ob¬ 
taining valuable data concerning the 
colored engineers of Memphis. 

Reed, Richard .... Chickasaw Candy Co. 

Mr. Reed is an expert engineer of 
thirty years’ experience and has success¬ 
fully demonstrated the colored man’s 
ability to understand and master the 
most abstruse principles of mechanical 
science. ' The author had the pleasure 
of meeting Mr. Reed personally and Mr. 
Reed’s modest bearing, confidence in 
himself and enthusiasm in his profes¬ 
sion gave evidence of a thoughtful and 
competent mind. 

Smith, Solomon.Cordova Hotel 

Mr. Smith is a mechanical genius of 
the first rank and has on exhibition sev¬ 
eral ingenious mechanical devices of his 
own construction. He is an able en¬ 
gineer and a bright example of what 
natural ability combined with unremit¬ 
ting industry can accomplish. Mr. 
Smith is a courteous, kindly gentleman 
and very deeply impressed the author 
with his charming personality. Mr. 
Smith is all right because he belongs to 
the Smith family and it would take a 
rash man indeed to withhold a single 
accomplishment due to one of this num¬ 
erous family. 

Spratlin, Chas.Novelty Candy Co. 

Mr. Spratlin has a host of friends 
that believe in his ability as an en¬ 
gineer and they have not hesitated to 
let the world know what they believe. 
Mr. Spratlin holds a very responsible 










190 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


position and is able to do full justice 
to it. He is a high-class mechanic and 
a credit to his race. 

Stamps, Wm.Crescent Laundry 

Mr. Stamps bears upon his brow the 
stamp of mechanical genius. He is an 
ambitious young man who believes there 
is room at the top and that by perse¬ 
verance and industry it is possible for 
a man to reach the top. He is a bright 
young man with an inclination to study 
and there is no reason why he should 
not reach the topmost station in his 
profession. 

Strickland, S. E.Luehrmann’s Hotel 

Mr. Strickland is a capable engineer 
of the greatest intelligence. He was 
fortunate to receive a good education 
and is well prepared to understand the 


principles of his profession. Mr. Strick¬ 
land and the writer were school boys 
in the long days gone by and no one is 
more highly gratified at Mr. Strickland’s 
success in his profession than the writer. 
Thompson, Wm. A. .. .Crescent Laundry 
Mr. Thompson is one of the most ex¬ 
perienced and most able engineers in 
the city of Memphis. He has a bright 
mind and has succeeded splendidly in 
his profession. He is kindly in disposi¬ 
tion and has given assistance to several 
who were anxious to understand the 
engineer’s profession. Mr. Thompson is 
a high-class man personally and profes¬ 
sionally and is one of the leading lights 
among the colored engineers of Mem¬ 
phis. The writer had the pleasure of 
meeting Mr. Thompson and felt himself 
well repaid for the effort. 


Engineers 


Armstrong, Green.. Continental Gin Co. 

Mr. Armstrong is an engineer of 
ability and experience and is able to 
acquit himself with credit in every ca¬ 
pacity requiring first-class mechanical 
skill. 

Bolden, C. H.Floyd’s 

Mr. Bolden is big both in physique 
and in brain. He is a good engineer 
and a coming man in his profession. 

Breathet, Louis .399 N. Main 

Mr. Breathet is not only a first-class 
engineer but he is a millwright and 
all-around mechanic. 

Cotton, Henry .J. C. Dix Co. 

Mr. Cotton is the man behind the ma¬ 
chinery and knows his work in its every 
detail. He is all right. 

Fields, J. K.S. Mem. Brick Co. 

Mr. Fields is one of the most ex¬ 
perienced engineers in Memphis. For 
many years he was a practical fireman 
in the service of various systems of 


railroads and gained that knowledge of 
machinery which makes him one of the 
most valuable employes of the South 
Memphis Brick Co. 

Green, John .631 Beale 

Hood, John .Anderson-Tully Co. 

Holmes, Wm.North Bellvue 

Hunter, Wm.Newsome Laundry 

Knox, Sanders.298 Ashland 

Mr. Knox is one of the most accom¬ 
plished mechanics in the whole country 
and it is difficult to know just in what 
department of excellence he is greatest. 
There is an expression in Latin— mul- 
tum in parvo— known to every intelli¬ 
gent school boy. It means “much in 
little.” To the author it seems won¬ 
derful how much ability there can be 
in such a small man as Mr. Knox. He 
is a millwright; he is an elevator con¬ 
structor; he is a structural worker and 
he is an electrician and high-class en¬ 
gineer. He served a careful apprentice- 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


191 


ship in order to master his profession 
and for several years worked at some 
of the leading foundries of Memphis and 
gained much of that information which 
makes him the prince of expert me¬ 
chanics. He has had over eighteen years 
experience in various kinds of mechani¬ 
cal labor and has demonstrated his 
ability in each. Seldom is there seen 
in one individual such wonderful knowl¬ 
edge of so many different things. He 
is a wide-a-wake, energetic, ambitious 
gentleman to whose genius all things 
mechanical seem possible. When a 
statement of fact along his line comes 
from him it is accepted by his friends 
with the same confidence that the dis¬ 


ciples of Pythagoras of olden times ac¬ 
cepted his doctrines. Mr. Knox is a 
tireless student' and is now working on 
an invention which may do much to 
bring his genius before the world. 

Lucas, James.Tennessee Fishery 

Puckett, Louis .Caldwell 

Puckett, Peyton .Caldwell 

Roby, George .370 S. Second 

Smith, John G.792 Porter 

Sneed, Edward .Rose’s Factory 

Thomas, Louis.G. A. Friedel Co. 

Watkins, Fred .Banner Laundry 

Wheatley, Albert .New Chicago 

Wilson, Robert .I. C. R. R. 

Woods, Edwin.Memphis Fiber Co. 


Expressmen 


Adams, James .Union & S. 2d Amey, J. A. 


JAMES ADAMS, 

EXPRESSMAN. 

Light Hauling. 

Stand: Union and S. Second Sts. 
Phones: Cumb., Main 3580. 
New, 2689. 

Residence. 632 Polk Avenue. 
Phone (new) 1926. 








EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER 
COMPANY. 

Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. 

PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With Care. 

Baggage and General Hauling. 

Good Teams and Prompt Service. 
Try us. Call 
P. M. ALLEY, 

New Phone: Old Phone: 

2196. 946 Main. 


•••* 

? 


. Gayoso and Second 


Alley, P. M.Second & Gayoso fa 


EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER i 
COMPANY. 

Stand: Cor. Gayoso and Second. • 
PIANOS and FURNITURE 

Moved With Care. I 

Baggage and General Hauling. f 
Good Teams and Prompt Service, f 
TRY US. Call i 

J. A. AMEY, • 

Memphis Phone 2196. * 

Cumb. Phone 946 Main. 


Amey, Wm.Second and Gayoso 




..•..•..•..•..a.. 


EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER 
COMPANY. 

Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. 
PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With Care. 
Baggage and General Hauling. 
Good Teams and Prompt Service. 
TRY US. Call 
WILLIAM AMEY, 

Old Phone 946 Main. 

New Phone 2196. 
























192 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


Banks, Lingy .Second and Gayoso Catron, Joe.Main and Gayoso 


1 LINGY BANKS, I 

| EXPRESSMAN. | 

| Baggage and General Hauling. | 

• Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. • 

f PHONES. | 

i New 2196. Old 946 Main, i 

? } 

Bellinger, P. W.Court Square 

| P. W. BELLINGER, l 

| EXPRESSMAN. | 

• Baggage and General Hauling. • 

Stand: Court Square. | 

1 Wagon No. 1530. • 

A A 

Bennett, Ed W.115 Monroe 

q..«. 

ED W. BENNETT, I 

1 EXPRESSMAN. ? 

• Baggage and General Hauling. ? 

I Stand: 115 Monroe Ave. ? 

• Phones: Both 784. a 

• A 

Bridgeforth, John... .Gayoso and Second 

EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER I 

COMPANY | 

Stand: Cor. Gayoso and Second. S 

PIANOS and FURNITURE • 

Moved With Care. ? 

Baggage and General Hauling. 
Good Teams and Prompt Service. 
TRY US. Call 

JOHN BRIDGEFORTH. 

PHONES. 

Memphis, 2196; Cumb., 946 Main. 


i 

i 

I 

A 


EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER 
COMPANY 

Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. 
PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With Care. 

Baggage and General Hauling. 
CALL C. BROWN. 

Mem. Phone 2196. MEMPHIS. 


I JOE CATRON, 

? EXPRESSMAN. 

| PIANOS and FURNITURE 
• Moved With Care. 

? Baggage and General Hauling. 

a Stand: Main and Gayoso Sts. 

f PHONES. 

| New, 2196; Old 946 Main. 

a Residence: 49 Lumpkin Street, 
MEMPHIS, TENN. 


•4 

f 


? 




? 

! 

? 


Cobb, Andrew .Gayoso and Second 

I EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER I 

f COMPANY 

a Stand: Cor. Gayoso and Second. 1 

PIANOS and FURNITURE 

Moved With Care. | 

Baggage and General Hauling. | 

Good Teams and Prompt Service. • 

TRY US. Call T 

ANDREW COBB. a 

f PHONES. • 

| Memphis, 2196; Cumb., 946 Main. | 

Davis, James .Court and Second 

a..*.a..*. 

! JAMES DAVIS, i 

? f EXPRESSMAN, 

i | Baggage and General Hauling. ? 

? a Stand: Court and Second. a 

| f MEMPHIS, TENN. 

! »J«#..#..#..»..#..*..#..a-a«a~a»a-a.*a.-a~a.«a«a«a«a.*a~»-a..a.*J« 

| East, Taylor .418 Webster 

i ^••a-.a^a-a-a-a-a-a-.a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-q* 


a..a..a..a..a..a»a»a*<a»a..a..a-a.<a»a<q« 


Brown, Call C.Second and Gayoso ? 


•pa"a"a»a»a~a~a«a»a»a-a~a~a-a-a«a-a»a»a~a~a~a"a-a-^* 


TAYLOR EAST, 

EXPRESSMAN. 

Express and Baggage. 
Residence: 418 Webster Avenue. 
Phone: Old, 1913 Main. 
MEMPHIS, TENN. 


Ficklin, S. J.Hernando and Gayoso 

q«.a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a^a»a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a.<a..a.q« 

I S. J. FICKLIN, 

| Express and Baggage. 

• Stand: Hernando and Gayoso. 

f MEMPHIS, TENN. 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


193 


Gwynne, R. D.Gayoso and Second Lawsche, Frank.Second and Union 

* R. D. GWYNNE, I 

EXPRESSMAN. T 

Baggage and General Hauling. | 
f. Stand: Gayoso and Second Sts. f 

* Phone 2030. « 

i MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. ? 

i 


I 




Harvey, Ed .Second and Court 

ED HARVEY, ! 

EXPRESSMAN. | 

Baggage and General Hauling. | 
Stand: Second and Court. | 
Wagon No. 1203. T 

I MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. ! 

| I 

Isom, Dink.Second and Madison 

DINK ISOM, f 

| Merchants’ Delivery and Express, f 

f Stand: Second and Madison Sts. ? 
! MEMPHIS, TENN. ? 

Jones, Frank.Second and Gayoso 

| EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER 
1 COMPANY 

Stand: Second and Gayoso, 

| PIANOS and FURNITURE • 

1 Moved With Care. ? 

* • 

• Baggage and General Hauling, f 

? Good Teams and Prompt Service. ? 
| TRY US. Call i 

• FRANK JONES, 

f PHONES. I 

New, 2196; Old, 946 Main. • 




L. C. LARRY, 


: 


l Express and Baggage. . 

1 Stand: Union and Second. i 
| Residence: 1108 Turley St. \ 
Phone 1108. J 

1 MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. | 


• FRANK LAWSCHE, 

• • 

• Express and Baggage. ? 

? Stand: Second and Union. | 
i Residence: 801 Brunswick Ave. ! 

• MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. • 

• • 

Letcher, Dick .Poplar St. Sta. 

EXPRESSMEN TRANSFER I 
OFFICE. f 

Poplar St. Station ! 

*** £ 

Pianos and General Hauling. ? 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Bag- • 
gage called for and delivered on f 
short notice. Open from 6 a.m. ? 
to 9 p.m.; Sunday as well. • 

PHONES. 

New, 1552; Cumb. 4091-A Main. | 


BY DICK LETCHER. 


Larry, L. C.Union and Second 


I 
* 

Loyd, Wm.Gayoso Hack Stand 

I GAYOSO HACK STAND, 
f WM. LOYD, T 

! EXPRESSMAN. | 

PIANOS and FURNITURE 
? Moved With Care. | 

! Baggage and General Hauling. i 
| Both Phones 2030. ? 

; Stand: Main and Gayoso Sts. | 
i MEMPHIS, TENN. i 

• • 

•£«. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .»J« 

Maxfield, J. C.Second and Gayoso 

I EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER I 
t COMPANY I 


Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. 
PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With Care. 
Baggage and General Hauling. 
Good Teams and Prompt Service. 
TRY US. Call 
J. C. MAXFIELD. 
PHONES. 

New, 2196; Old, 946 Main. 


i 

t 

: 

f 

i 

»j.'i 





















194 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


McGehee, N. M.Front and Monroe Ross, A.Beale and S. Second 


N. M. McGEHEE, £ 

| EXPRESSMAN. | 

f PIANOS and FURNITURE j 
• Moved With Care. £ 

| Baggage and General Hauling. | 

£ Good Team and Prompt Service. • 

| Stand: Front and Monroe Sts. 

i New Phone 699. 


i J. C. McNEAL, 

• THE SOUTH MEMPHIS 

: EXPRESSMAN. 

£ Baggage and General Hauling. 

Residence. 952 Ford Ave. 

| Stand: Second and Gayoso Sts. 

• MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. 


I ALLEN C. MILAN, | 

? EXPRESSMAN. f 

i Baggage and General Hauling. | 
£ Stand: Corner Front & Exchange. £ 
* Phone: Mem., 572. 

i MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. I 

£ £ 




JAMES MORGAN, 
Express, Baggage and General 
Hauling. 

Stand: Monroe and Front. 
Residence: 654 Washington Ave. 
MEMPHIS, TENN. 


SOL PLUMMER, 

CITY EXPRESSMAN. 
Baggage and General Hauling. 

With Gayoso Hack Stand. 
Stand: Main and Gayoso Sts. 
Both Phones 2030. 


Plummer, Sol.Main and Gayoso 

r 

t 

: 

£ 

: 

I 
£ 

£ 

i 


? 

£ 

* 


• i 

• Express and Baggage. £ 

£ Stand: Beale and S. Second Sts. £ 

£ Residence. 924 Malcolm Avenue. £ 


MEMPHIS, 


Phone 707. 


TENN. 


McNeal, J. C.Second and Union 

| 

• 

i 

I 

: 

f 


£ 4..4..J.. 

I Scruggs, Wm.130 Monroe 

*{«4«4«*n4..4..4«»u4H«»»„»»*..»>*..*»l>.*..».'t..|..*..*»l«*.^* 

| WM. SCRUGGS, 

4 « 

£ Baggage and General Hauling. £ 

£ Stand: Dunn’s Exchange. £ 

J 130 Monroe Ave., T 

£ MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. £ 


•^•••••«*|HtM|ll9u944tlt9H««»|«*t..«Mt».«M9..««.944944|4t§M«44t.494^« • 

Milan, Allen C.Front and Exchange ; 


.%.4..4..4..4..4--4--4--4-.4"4'-4'-4--4"4'-4-'4"4-e--4--4"4"4"4-4>.’'< 

Segrest, Henry.Court and Second 

* • 

£ 

i 


HENRY SEGREST, 
Express and Baggage. 

Stand: Cor. Court and Second. 
MEMPHIS, TENN. 


Terrel, Henry .Gayoso and Second 


£ EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER I 
COMPANY. I 


Morgan, James.Monroe and Front £ 


Stand: Cor. Gayoso and Second. 
PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With £are. 
Baggage and General Hauling. 
Good Teams and Prompt Service. 
TRY US. 

Not Responsible for Freight 
Not Packed by us. 

-Call- 

HENRY TERRELL. 

PHONES. 

Memphis, 2196; Cumb., Main 946. 
Residence: 353 Lucy Ave. 


..4..4..4..4..4-. 4..4..4..4..4..4..4..4.. 4.. 4 


■4’.4->4"4-4»4>-4"4t^. 


i 

£ 

£ 

Turner, W. M.Monroe and Second 

• 

£ Express and Baggage. £ 

? Stand: Monroe and Second. £ 
MEMPHIS, TENN. | 

4 .-- —»—l 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


195 


Washington, Arthur. .Second and Gayoso 




ARTHUR WASHINGTON, ! 

Furniture Mover. • 

Orders for General Hauling | 

Promptly Attended. 1 

PIANOS and FURNITURE • 

Handled With Care. | 

Baggage a Specialty. i 

f Cumb. Phone Main 946. ? 

i Memphis Phone 2196. | 

Stand: Second and Gayoso. * 

? • 

Washington, S. T...Second, bet. Union 
and Monroe. 


Public Hauling 
S. T. WASHINGTON. 

Residence: New Phone 2017. 
Stand: Old Phone 2037 Main. 

Residence 672 Williams Ave. 
Stand: Second, bet. Union and 
Monroe. 








| EXPRESSMEN’S TRANSFER | 
f COMPANY. ? 


f 


Stand: • 

Cor. Gayoso and Second Sts 
T PIANOS and FURNITURE 
i Moved With Care. | 

f Baggage and General Hauling. i 
? Good Teams and Prompt Service. ? 

• TRY US. Call ! 

• W. R. WASHINGTON. • 

? PHONES. | 

• Memphis, 2196; Cumb. 946 Main, i 
? ? 

Wells, William.Front and Monroe 


? 


WILLIAM WELLS, 

EXPRESSMAN. 

PIANOS and FURNITURE 
Moved With Care. 
Baggage and General Hauling. 
Cumb. Phone 699. 

Stand: Cor. Front and Monroe. 


Washington, W. R.Gayoso and 2d 


Federal Building 


BELL, EVERETT. 

Mr. Bell is an ex-practicing attorney 
at the bar of Memphis and a gentleman 
of the highest intelligence. He is a 
quiet, thoughtful gentleman and enjoys 
universal regard. 

CARNES, CHAS. 

Mr. Carnes believes in the idea of al¬ 
ways going upwards. He believes that 
there is room at the top, for he is the 
elevator man in the Federal building. 

COLE, GEORGE. 

Mr. Cole is a jovial, witty, good-na¬ 
tured gentleman. He is a student of 
human nature and something of a phi¬ 
losopher. He is a good citizen and has 
served the community well. 


COTTON, EDWARD. 

For twenty years Mr. Cotton has 
been connected with the engineering de¬ 
partment of the United States govern¬ 
ment, and is one of its most valuable 
employes. The head officials of the local 
engineering department may come and 
go, but Mr. Cotton, like Tennyson’s 
brook, goes on forever. Like King Cot¬ 
ton, he is the real goods. 

HUMES, H. H. 

Mr. Humes has the unusual distinc- 
. tion of being the first colored man in 
the State of Tennessee to be honored 
with the position of crier of United 
States District Court. He is a man of 
superior educational qualification and for 
many years was one of the leading local 










196 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


teachers. He is a patron of learning, 
and has given to his family the best 
educational advantages. He is a good 
citizen and has always given a good ac¬ 
count of his time and opportunities. 

JAMES, CHAS. 

Mr. James is a quiet, business-like 
gentleman with a host of friends. 

MATLOCK, JOHN L. 

Mr. Matlock is a reliable and honor¬ 
able man and devoted to the perform¬ 
ance of his duty. He is as steady as 
one of the grandfather clocks of old. 

M’PHERSON, TOBE. 

Mr. McPherson is one of the best 
known citizens of Memphis, having lived 
here all of his life. He is a jovial, con¬ 
genial man, with the faculty of making 
friends wherever he goes. 



PACE, J. W. 

Mr. Pace is connected with the Light 
House department of the United States 
government. He is a native of New 
Orleans, and a gentleman of education 
and culture. Since coming to Memphis 
he has proven to be a very serviceable 


and accomplished worker in church and 
in social life. He is a, musician of fine 
ability and a forceful and graceful ora¬ 
tor. He is a bundle of nervous energy 
and never seems happier than when this 
energy is seeking outlet in deeds of 
service and goodness. No other young 
man stands higher than Mr. Pace does 
in the estimation of the good people of 
Memphis, and if there be any more like 
him in New Orleans the people of Mem¬ 
phis will extend to them a cordial in¬ 
vitation if they wish to come up and 
cast their fortune with the people of a 
live, up-to-date city. 

PORTER, WM. 

Everybody knows big, hearty, good- 
natured Wm. Porter, and to know him 
is to love him. He is probably the best 
known man in Memphis. He is a vet¬ 
eran of the Union army and one of the 
oldest members connected with the U. 
B. F. fraternity. For many years he 
has been one of the leading Masons of 
Tennessee, and has had the highest hon¬ 
ors of that fraternity conferred upon 
him. For popularity in Masonic circles 
he is in a class by himself. He has had 
much experience in political life and on 
the political platform he has rendered 
great service to his party. He is one 
of the most adroit, resourceful and sue- 
cessful political speakers that ever stood 
on the stump and has a fund of exper¬ 
ience that no other public man in the 
community has had. He is an interest¬ 
ing man and a good citizen and deserves 
every good word that can be said of 
him. 

TAYLOR, FRED. 

Mr. Taylor is a mechanic of fine abil¬ 
ity and as an engineer takes rank with 
the best. 

WILLIAMS, JESSE J. 

Mr. Williams is a pleasant young man 
and dutiful in the performance of his 
business. He has a large circle of 
friends and deserves them all. 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


197 


WILSON, CHAS. J., SR. 

Mr. Wilson is one of the best known 
citizens of Memphis. He has long been 
identified in various capacities with the 
history of Memphis and in each of these 
he has served the city well. For years 
he was connected with the police depart¬ 
ment of Memphis. He has always been 
prominent in the councils of the Re¬ 
publican party. He has been connected 
with the postoffice department for sev¬ 
eral years and has performed with credit 


the duties of his position. He is one 
of the leaders in the Reform School 
movement among the colored people of 
Memphis, and has made herculean ef¬ 
forts in behalf of this institution for 
colored youth. Mr. Wilson has energy, 
enthusiasm and determination, and with 
proper encouragement is capable of the 
best results in whatever he undertakes. 

WILSON, CHAS. J., JR. 

A fine young man is Mr. Wilson, Jr., 
and a chip off the old block. 


Memphis Postoffice Department 


ANDERSON, H. A. 

Mr. Anderson has served four years 
in the department and is one of its 
most efficient carriers. He was educated 
at Lane College, Jackson, Tenn., his 
former home, and is a gentleman of cul¬ 
ture and refinement. He is very popular 
in social circles and has brought to 
Memphis every requisite and qualifica¬ 
tion that is necessary to enable him to 
succeed. 

BAKER, S. H. 

Mr. Baker has served three years in 
the department and has given complete 
satisfaction. He is a graduate of Kort- 
recht High School and a musician of ex¬ 
perience. 

BARKER, M. H. 

Mr. Barker has been honored with 
twenty-four years’ service in the de¬ 
partment and is one of the most ex¬ 
perienced and efficient carriers in the 
office. He is a graduate of Lemoyne 
Institute and a man of versatile ability. 
He is a poet, a wit, an artist, a lover 
of flowers and wholesome out-of-door 
sports and a fine man on general prin¬ 
ciples. 



BERGANS, O. W. 

Mr. Bergans has been connected with 
the department for twenty-three years 
and is regarded as one of the most faith¬ 
ful, reliable, and efficient carriers in it. 
He is devoted to his official duties and 
to his friends and can always be relied 





198 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


upon to be faithful and true. Free from 
affectation, great of heart, and true as 
steel, he is the personification of manly 
virtues. 

BOWLES, R. L. 

Mr. Bowles has been employed in the 
department for seven years, and is one 
of its best carriers. 

BRANCH, L. F. 

Mr. Branch began his career in the 
postal service eight years ago and has 
acquitted himself with great credit in 
the performance of his duties. He is a 
graduate of Lemoyne School, an active 
member in church work, an experienced 
singer, and the owner of a cozy little 
home presided over by a dutiful wife. 

CARTER, W. H. G. 

Mr. Carter has had three years’ ex¬ 
perience in the carrier’s service. He is 
a fine amateur photographer and a man 
of splendid ability. 

CASEY, R. M. 

Mr. Casey has served only two years 
in the department, but in this short time 
he has gained the experience of a vet¬ 
eran. He is a highly intelligent gentle¬ 
man and commands the respect of all 
who know him. He has an elegant little 
home on Saxon avenue and some day 
may have an elegant little companion 
to share with him a little cozy corner 
in it. 

CURRY, J. T. 

Mr. Curry has seen four years’ service 
in the department and is very efficient 
in the performance of his duties. He 
is a graduate of Kortrecht High School 
and a recent candidate admitted to the 
ancient order of bride grooms. 

DANIELS, H. B. 

Mr. Daniels has shouldered the mail 
bag for four years and his broad and 
manly shoulders have well responded to 
the trust. He is a graduate of Kor¬ 
trecht High School and an athlete of 
splendid ability. 


DAVIS, C. M. 

Mr. Davis has seen seventeen years 
of faithful and honorable service in the 
department and is second to none in 
fidelity and efficiency. 

DAVIS, FRANK 

Four years of efficient service in the 
department have been given by Mr. 
Frank Davis. He is a bright and intel¬ 
ligent young man with talents of the 
highest order and is capable of render¬ 
ing the best service in every field of ac¬ 
tivity to which he may be called. 

FARNANDIS, B. J. 

Mr. Farnandis has served nine years 
in the department. He is a jeweler and 
watchmaker of ability and one of the 
leading officials connected with the 
Knights of Pythias fraternity in the 
State of Tennessee. 

FIELDS, N. H. 

Mr. Fields has an experience of four 
years in the postoffice and is one of its 
most efficient carriers. He is fleet of 
foot and rapid in delivery and has made 
a commendable record in these two re¬ 
spects. 

FOOTE, W. H. 

This genial and courtly knight of the 
mail sack has seen four years of service. 
He is a gifted young man and has the 
ability to succeed in any of the intel¬ 
lectual pursuits of life. He was one of 
the leading teachers of Shelby county 
for several years and enjoyed the dis¬ 
tinction of being at one time private 
secretary of Dr. Booker Washington. 

FRANKLIN, H. J. 

Mr. Franklin has an experience of 
four years in the postal service. For 
several years he was prominently con¬ 
nected as teacher with the schools of 
Shelby county and subsequently with 
the city schools. He is a very efficient 
carrier. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


199 


GWYN, R. S. 

Four years of efficient and faithful 
service in the department have passed 
over the head of Mr. Gwyn. He is a 
young man of bright prospects and 
blessed with a host of friends. 

HOWARD, MEUX. 

For over eighteen years the postal 
service has been honored by Mr. Meux 
Howard who has been as efficient as his 
services have been long. He is a quiet 
gentlemanly man and a splendid up¬ 
right citien. 

HOWLETT, L. W. 

Mr. Howlett has an experience of 
three years in the Memphis postoffice 
and is a thoroughly reliable and efficient 
employe. He is an ex-school teacher and 
a man of ability. In the swing room 
he is the prince of orators and holds 
spell-bound his fellow auditors. 

JACKSON, LEWIS. 

Mr. Jackson has served three years 
as carrier in the Memphis postoffice. 
For several years before entering the 
postal service he worked for P. J. 
Moran. He is a well-known citizen of 
Memphis. 

JAMES, A. F. 

Mr. James has faithfully served in the 
postoffice department of Memphis for 
five years. He is a young man of prom¬ 
ise and ability. He is a graduate of 
Kortrecht High School and is one of the 
most efficient carriers in the service. 

JEFFERSON, AURELIAN S. 

Mr. Jefferson has been identified with 
the ancient and honorable knights of the 
mail sack for three and one-half years, 
and has held his own for efficiency and 
honor. He is a graduate of LeMoyne 
School and prominently connected with 
the social life of the young people of 
Memphis. 

JONES, WELLINGTON. 

Mr. Jones is a member of the cele¬ 
brated Jones family which counts its 


numbers by the thousands. He has 
creditably served three years in the de¬ 
partment and is a worthy and honorable 
young man. 

KIRKLAND, ERNEST. 

Five years of faithful and efficient 
service have been contributed by Mr. 
Kirkland to the work of the postoffice 
department of Memphis. He is a type¬ 
writer of great skill and served in that 
capacity with some of the leading law¬ 
yers of the city for several years before 
entering the postal service. 



LOVE, JOHN R. 

One of 'the most experienced, most ef¬ 
ficient and most faithful carriers con¬ 
nected with the postoffice department is 
Mr. John R. Love. For nineten long 
years he has performed the duties of 
his exalted trust and not a blemish has 
been found on his record. His name is 
a synonym for honesty, thrift, energy 
and devotion to duty. He is a bright 
example of the possibilities in reach of 
every deserving and ambitious young 
man. By his foresight, sacrifices and 




200 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 



thrift, he has accumulated a comforta¬ 
ble fortune and can laugh in the face of 
the wolf whose coming brings terror 
and consternation to so many. He is 
the wealthiest of the young colored men 
of Memphis and sleeps with only one eye 
closed in order that no chance or ad¬ 
vantage may escape him. He is an ex¬ 
perienced musician of great ability and 
leader of the Mail Carriers Orchestra. 
His name is indicative of the feeling 
possessed for him by his multitude of 
friends. 


M’FARLAND, WM. P. 

Mr. McFarland is a veteran in efficient 
and honorable service in the postoffice 
department. He is the second on the 
list in length of service, having been con¬ 
nected with the department for twenty- 
eight years. He is a man of influence 
and ability and has had varied experience 
along business, political and fraternal 
lines. He is a forceful and effective 
orator and graces well the most select 
occasion. 


MERRIWETHER, WM. 

Mr. Meriwether is an experienced and 
efficient employe of the classified ser¬ 
vice in Memphis. He is a young man of 
polished address and has well retained 
the graces of manner and charms of dic¬ 
tion that he acquired when a student 
at Clay Street school. 

MERRITT, WM. F. 

Mr. Merritt has an honorable record 
of six years in the mail service. He is a 
quiet, honest and capable young man, 
and, as his name suggests, merits the 
best wishes of all that know him. 

MORTON, FRANK. 

Mr. Morton has seen two years of 
faithful service as a man with the mail 
track. He is a graduate of Kortrecht 
High School and a young man of fine 
parts. 


OWENS, WM. H. 

Eighteen winters have passed over the 
head of Mr. Owens since he became iden¬ 
tified with the postoffice department in 
the capacity of carrier; but these many 
winters have been mild and not stormy 
because they brought to him pleasure 
from the knowledge of having faithfully 
performed his whole duty. Mr. Owens 
is a patron of education and provides 
for his children the best educational ad¬ 
vantages. His son, Robert, is a grad- 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


201 


uate of Kortrecht High School and 
one of his daughters is a grad¬ 
uate of LeMoyne. Two of his sons are 
now attending Dr. Washington’s famous 
school at Tuskegee. He is an efficient 
carrier and a worthy citizen. 

OWENS, L. E. 

Mr. Owens has an experience of three 
and one-half years as carrier in the post- 
office department of Memphis. He is a 
graduate of Kortrecht High School and 
a young man that will succeed in mak¬ 
ing his mark on something else besides 
the slate. 

POLK, I. A., Jr. 

Mr. Polk has an experience of three 
years in the postal department. He is 
a graduate of LeMoyne and a young man 
of talents. He has performed his duties 
with efficiency, and a bright future 
awaits him. 



PRATT, J. H. 

The jovial, well-disposed, well-groomed 
and efficient carrier bearing this honor¬ 
able name has had an experience of 8 
years in the mail service. He is a grad¬ 
uate of LeMoyne school and a musician 
of promising talents. He is a great tel¬ 
ler of stories, but not a story teller, and 
the writer always enjoys the wonderful 
narrations of his eventful life. He has 


a comfortable home on McKinney street 
and a charming wife to make it cheer¬ 
ful. 

RANDOLPH, R. V. 

This gentleman with the historic old 
Virgina name has had four and one-half 
years’ experience unlocking the letter 
boxes of Uncle Sam, and most earnestly 
and faithfully has he performed his du¬ 
ties. He is a young man of splendid 
ability and personal magnetism, coupled 
with good common sense, as was evi¬ 
denced in his selection of a charming 
partner for life. 

REAVES, Z. T. 

This well known citizen of Memphis 
has had an experience of 16 years in 
the Memphis postoffice and has per¬ 
formed his duties with efficiency and 
credit. He has been long and faithfully 
connected with ex-United States Sena¬ 
tor Turley, one of the ablest and best 
known lawyers of the South, and en¬ 
joys his confidence and esteem to a large 
degree. 

RIVERS, AUGUSTUS. 

Mr. Rivers is an employe of 5 years’ 
experience in the postoffice department 
of Memphis and ranks with the best 
in the service. He is a very intelligent 
young man and has an interesting 
household presided over by an intelli¬ 
gent wife. 

ROBERTS, C. W. 

For 26 years Mr. Roberts has worn 
the insignia of honorable service in the 
postoffice department of Memphis. He 
ranks third on the list in length of serv¬ 
ice and in the front rank with the best 
in point of faithfulness and efficiency. 
Notwithstanding his many setbacks in 
life, he has accumulated some valuable 
property in Memphis. He is an honor¬ 
able man and incapable of anything un¬ 
worthy. 

ROBINSON, RICHARD. 

Mr. Robinson has been honorably con¬ 
nected with the mail service in the city 
of Memphis for nine and one-half years 
and is one of its most reliable and 
trusted representatives. He is an intel¬ 
ligent man and has an interesting fam¬ 
ily, whose welfare is looked after by 
a devoted wife. 

SAUNDERS, DERO P. 

Mr. Saunders is a young man of 4 
years’ experience in the postal depart- 


202 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


ment. He is efficiency personified. He 
is a stockholder of the Solvent Savings 
bank of this city and is a thrifty young 
man of great promise. Without doubt 
the coming years will have substantial 
evidence of his financial prosperity. 

SIMON, CLARENCE. 

Mr. Simon bears lightly the burdens 
of his five years’ service in the post 
office department of Memphis. It is 
probable that his proficiency as a pian¬ 
ist enables him to drive away dull care. 
He is a graduate of LeMoyne school 
and one of the most competent em¬ 
ployes in the service. 

SIMS, EUGENE. 

Mr. Sims’ experience as a carrier in 
the postoffice department of Memphis 
covers a period of two and one-half 
years of loyal and efficient service. He 
is a quiet young man that enjoys the 
best wishes of his many friends. 

SMITH, WILLIAM W. 

Mr. Smith is a carrier of 3 years’ ex¬ 
perience in the service of letter carry¬ 
ing. He is well and favorably known 
in this capacity. | 

SNEED, E. A. JR. 

The kindly disposed, smiling young 
man bearing the name of Sneed has had 
4 years’ experience in the postal serv¬ 
ice of Memphis and ranks with the 
best carriers in the service. He is a 
walker of great speed and has a stride 
that would make a seven-footer grow 
green with envy. He is a member of 
the mair carriers’ orchestra and a pleas¬ 
ant gentleman. 

TRIGG, A. A. 

The oriental looking young man bear¬ 
ing this uncommon name has been cred¬ 
itably employed in the service of the gov¬ 
ernment for 6 years. He is a gradu¬ 
ate of Kortrecht High school and a de¬ 
termined and ambitious citizen. Not 
only has he successfully made his own 
way in life, but he has been of material 


assistance to the younger members of 
iiis family. He is happily married and 
two orientals of diminutive stature bless 
his home. 



WASHINGTON, D. W. 

It is seldom the good fortune of ordi¬ 
nary mortals to receive the praise that 
is due them before they are dead. It 
is the general custom to bestow praise 
upon the dead; but the writer prefers 
to bestow it upon the worthy living, 
and in his judgment no other citizen 
in the community is more highly de¬ 
serving of commendation than the 
gentleman bearing the illustrious name 
of the father of this country. Mr. Wash¬ 
ington has the unique honor of being 
the oldest carrier in the Memphis post- 
office in length of service and his record 
for faithfulness and efficiency bears the 
stamp of perfection. No other citizen 
of the community is worthier of greater 
regard than Mr. Washington. Possibly 
the first colored man to be appointed 
to service in the postoffice department 









THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


208 


of Memphis, for 34 years he has upheld 
in this capacity the integrity and honor 
of the colored race, and in doing so he 
has shown himself to be a benefactor 
of the race. By his fidelity to duty, 
his energy, foresight and thrift, together 
with his known piety, he has amassed 
great wealth and is the second wealthi¬ 
est colored man of Memphis. His wealth 
has been honorably acquired for he has 
always been a pious man with the fear 
of God in his heart. His wealth has 
not been selfishly used, but much of it 
has been worthily bestowed to meet 
the needs of his people. His liberality 
is so generally known that it is unnec¬ 
essary in these pages to refer in indi¬ 
vidual instances to it. The life of 
Mr. Washington ought to be an inspira¬ 
tion to the young people of Memphis 
inasmuch as it points out the way how 
they can gain wealth and yet never lose 
their honor. 

WATKINS, GEO. J. 

Mr. Watkins has had an experience of 
only two years in the postal department, 
but these two years have been a monu¬ 
ment to his efficiency and the faith¬ 
ful discharge of his duties, all of which 
demonstrates the fact that it is not nec¬ 
essary to grow old in order to be wise. 

WHITE, JOHN, JR. 

For six years has Mr. White held high 
the banner of duty and honor in the 
discharge of his duties since the begin¬ 
ning of his connection with the post- 
office department of Memphis. He is 
a graduate of Kortrecht High School 
and a worthy alumnus of that school. 
He is a quiet, self-confident, intelligent, 
ambitious young man and is a credit to 
his worthy parents from whom he re¬ 
ceived his good qualities. 

WILLIAMSON, B. T. 

Three years of faithful service has 
been the record of Mr. B. T. Williamson. 


He is a young man of promise and a 
member of the mail carriers’ orchestra. 
He is a young man of good family and 
deserves success. 

WILSON, J. S. 

Mr. Wilson has served in the depart¬ 
ment of letters for seven years and 
is able to render the very best service. 
His record in this respect is very cred¬ 
itable. 

WOODS, S. J. JR. 

Mr. Woods has been connected with 
the postoffice department of Memphis 
for a period of four years and has gained 
the reputation of being faithful and ef¬ 
ficient in the performance of his duties. 
He has talents for music, and is a mem¬ 
ber of the mail carriers’ orchestra. 

WRIGHT, JAS. R. 

For 25 years Mr. Wright has per¬ 
formed the duties of carrier in the pos¬ 
tal service of Memphis and his record is 
perfect for devotion to and faithful per¬ 
formance of his duties. Mr. Wright is 
a quiet, unassuming, courteous gentle¬ 
man, and one of the best known citi¬ 
zens of Memphis. He is connected with 
the Solvent Savings bank and has a 
commodious and substantial home on 
East Butler avenue. He believes in the 
value of education and gives to his chil¬ 
dren every possible educational advan¬ 
tage. 

YOUNG, THOMAS E. 

The pleasant, affable young man 
bearing the name of Young has spent 8 
years of his life in the department of 
letters. He ranks with the first in the 
office in respect to ability, intelligence 
and efficiency. Mr. Young has not 
only performed the duties of his posi¬ 
tion with credit, but he has so deported 
himself as to deserve the best wishes of 
the people who know him. To the writer 
he is known simply as “Tommie,” be¬ 
cause the writer apparently sees in him 
the simplicity and honesty of the child¬ 
hood that he knew in days gone by. 


204 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


SUBSTITUTE CARRIERS. 

BURNETT, CHAS. 

COOK, FRANK. 

DANIELS, ROBERT H. 

Mr. Daniels is a courteous and kindly 
gentleman, and a splendid neighbor, and 
is blessed with an interesting family 
and bright prospects. He has a nice 
home on Saxon avenue. 

EDMUNDSON, J. W. 

FRANKLIN, ROBERT. 

Mr. Franklin is a graduate of Le 
Moyne Normal Institute and a young 
man of fine ability and good social stand¬ 
ing. 

FULLER, EDGAR. 

MARSHALL, WALTER. 

Mr. Marshall is a gentleman with 
bright prospects, both in the postoffice 
department and in the line of success in 
general. He has always been industri¬ 
ous and thrifty and has a commodious 
and substantial home on South Cynthia 


street to show for his untiring efforts. 
His faithful wife has contributed in 
no small degree to his success, and their 
domestic life is as charming as his suc¬ 
cess has been emphatic. 

PLAITER, I. W. 

RIVERS, GEORGE. 
STANLEY, KING. 

STEELE, EMMET. 

Mr. Steele is a graduate of Kortrecht 
High school and a bright young man 
with brilliant prospects. 

TAYLOR, LONGLEY. 

Mr. Taylor is a graduate of Kortrecht 
High school and a quiet, unassuming 
gentleman with a splendid future. 

SPECIAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT. 

Reaves, Hezekiah, 10 months. 

Reaves, Thomas C. 2 years, 7 months. 
Saunders, Will P., 1 year, 7 months. 
Scott, Fred P., 2 years, 6 months. 
Thompson, Abe C., 1 year, 3 months. 


Feed Stores 



? New ’Phone 583. ? 

I MEMPHIS FEED AND PRO- I 
l DUCE CO. | 

f N .W. Bridgeforth, Agt., • 
| Wholesale and Retail Dealer in | 
! Grain, Hay, Oats, Bran and f 
| Produce. ? 

• 390 Beale Ave. Memphis, Tenn. • 

A 1 


Mr. Bridgeforth is a native of Tennes¬ 
see, though most of his friends think 
him to be a native of Alabama. He has 
been connected with the commercial life 
of Memphis ever since his advent to the 
city. He is an all-around business man 
and has generally succeeded in his en- 


Bridgeforth, N. W, 


390 Beale 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


205 


terprises. He is one of the stockholders 
of the Solvent Savings bank of this 
city and is thoroughly alive to its in¬ 
terests. Mr. Bridgeforth is a plain, un¬ 
assuming, thoughtful business man and 
can see as far into the millstone as the 
man that is pecking it. He is a firm, 
true and loyal friend, and is the same 
honest man to everybody. He has an 
elegant home and a charming wife. No 
man deserves to have a greater blessing. 


v 



Bumpus, W. M.425 Beale 


I W. M. BUMPUS, f 

l Hay, Com, Bran and Oats. i 
• First Class Products. f 

Your Patronage Solicited. | 

1 Memphis ’Phone 783. 425 Beale. • 

A prosperous man should give some 
physical evidence of his prosperity, and 
if this statement be true Mr. Bumpus 
is a very prosperous citizen, indeed. 
Nature has been overly kind to him and 
outdid herself when she made him; for 
she gave him the proportions of a giant 


and a giant he is, both in heart and in 
mind. For several years Mr. Bumpus 
has been catering to the wants of the 
public. The writer’s first recollection 
of Mr. Bumpus was when Mr. Bumpus 
was in the confectionary business, and 
was such an expert manipulator of the 
soda water fountain that he could draw 
several different flavors out of the same 
bottle. He was born for a magician, but 
grew too big to perform the little tricks. 
Mr. Bumpus easily has the most attrac¬ 
tive grocery store of any of the colored 
grocers of Memphis. His volume of 
business is very large, and its financial 
returns are very satisfactory. He runs 
a combination grocery, meat market and 
feed store, and is thus able to catch pa¬ 
trons coming and going. He is a good 
business man and deserves every suc¬ 
cess. He is kind-hearted, generous, 
loyal and true and deserves the best 
wishes of all good people. He is a duti¬ 
ful son and brother and a fine man in 
general. 

Sampson, R. K.. .Desota and Miss. Blvd. 

i ? 

? R. K. SAMPSON, 

• 

; Wholesale and Retail .. 

f Dealer in ’’ 

• 

! Hay, Com, Oats, Bran, Chops, , 

| Alfalfa, Chickasaw, Timothy, " 
Hay, Poultry and Produce. 

s Cor. Desota and Miss. Blvd. New ' | 
! ’Phone 416. ;; 

I Memphis, Tenn. 

• ' ■ 

Mr. Sampson is the pioneer in the 
feed business exclusively and is a hust¬ 
ling, energetic young man. His busi¬ 
ness has been prosperous from its begin¬ 
ning and it is a matter of satisfac¬ 
tion to Mr. Sampson that his business 
has continued to grow from the first 
day he began. 










206 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Foremen 


Alexander, Chas.Bailey Bros. 

Barnett, Clem.I. C. R. R. 

Barnett, Wm... Memphis Consolidated 
Gas and Electric Light Company. 
Barton, George..Car Clearning Depart¬ 
ment ’Frisco R. R. 

Bradford, Isom.. Va-Carolina Chemical 
Company. 

Cooper, Frank.. Memphis Engineering 
Department. 

Mr. Cooper for a generation has been 
one of the most valuable and experi¬ 
enced men connected with the engineer¬ 
ing department of the city of Memphis. 
His knowledge and mastery of the work 
may be considered so complete that his 
services could not be easily dispensed 
with. He is a big man holding a big 
job. 

Cotton Abraham.Willins Coal Co. 

Crawford, Frank.742 Simmons 

Mr. Crawford has for five years or 
more been foreman of the construction 
department of the Memphis Street Rail¬ 
way Company and is one of the most 
competent as well as the most conspicu¬ 
ous colored foreman in the city of Mem¬ 
phis. He ma^ be seen at almost any 
time supervising a gang of workmen on 
the street car tracks. He holds a very 
responsible position. He was born in 
Chattanooga and has filled in other cities 
positions similar in capacity to the one 
he now so honorably fills. He is a large 
and powerful man and is able both men¬ 
tally and physically to take care of him¬ 
self and perform the duties of his po¬ 
sition. Col. Crawford has the right kind 
of sand in his craw. 

Dailey, Walter. .Brown Shoe and Handle 
Company. 

Fields, Bal T. .Wm. R. Moore Dry Goods 
Company. 

Fowlkes, G. W..R. Woolfenden & Co., 
Exporters. 


Mr. Fowlkes is one of the best known 
and most highly intelligent young men 
of the city of Memphis. He has been 
prominently identified in a military and 
social way with the life of Memphis 
and enjoys the respect, confidence and 
esteem of a host of personal friends. He 
is the ranking member of the Mossaic 
fraternity in the city of Memphis and is 
a worthy representative of the charac¬ 
ter of its membership. 

Gammon, James, Miller Paving Company 
Henderson, Wm. .Memphis Consolidated 
Gas and Electric Company. 

For 17 years Mr. Henderson has been 
connected in an official capacity with 
the gas companies of Memphis, and for 
several years has been foreman of the 
Consolidated Gas and Electric Company 
and is one of the most valuable men 
connected with this corporation. Most 
of the responsible work on the leading 
thoroughfares of Memphis is entrusted 
to his care, and his services have always 
been highly satisfactory. He has an ele¬ 
gant home on Ayers street and a charm¬ 
ing family circle. He is a pleasant man 
and carries his honors with becoming 
modesty. He has a talented son grow¬ 


ing up in his footsteps. 

Hill, Russell.E. Roberson 

Hodges, D. J.... Chas. Hollis, Contractor 


Mr. Hodges is a pioneer in brick ma¬ 
sonry in the city of Memphis, and is 
one of the most skillful workmen that 
ever handled the trowel. He is a master 
of the trade that he has so long and 
honorably followed. He is also a mas¬ 
ter Mason and one of the best known 
leaders of this fraternity in the state of 
Tennessee. He is a man of experience 
and ability in many different lines of 
usefulness and’ has done much to pro¬ 
mote the welfare of his race. 

Hunt, George.Mat Moneghan 

Jackson, James.I. C. R. R. 








THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


207 


McLemore, Jno. M.. J. A. Holmes Lum¬ 
ber Company. 

McDale, Henry. .Merchants’ Elevator Co. 

Miller, Calvin.615 N. 2d. 

Miller, James M. .Shanks, Phillips & Co. 

Mr. Miller has for a long time been 
in the employment of this well-known 
local firm and enjoys their confidence 
to a perfect degree. He is the father 
of Mr. Eugene Miller, the talented me¬ 
chanic and engineer who has one or two 
valuable inventions to his credit. A 
worthy father and a worthy son. 


Robinson, Frank. .. Memphis Bridge Co. 

Smith, Chas.Seiferd & Oppenheimer 

Sneed, Paul.Oak Hall Clothing Co. 

Mr. Sneed is the head of the delivery 
department of this famous clothing house 
and enjoys the confidence of his em¬ 
ployers. 

Taylor, Chas.Novelty Candy Co. 

Mr. Taylor is an authority in the 
candy making art and is one of the best 
and most intelligent young men con¬ 
nected with that industry. 

Williams, Wm. .. .Mr. Walsh, Contractor 
Wilson, James.Shelby County Barn 


Fraternal and Benevolent Societies 


ELKS. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis June 26, 1906. It has one 

lodge in Memphis and two lodges else¬ 
where in Tennessee. It has in Memphis 
a membership of 100. Its local endow¬ 
ment is $50. Its chief officers are as 
follows: Mr. Jas. R. Wright, exalted 
ruler; Mr. D. P. Sanders, local secre¬ 
tary; Mr. H. H. Pace, grand secretary. 
The local lodge of Elks is to be congrat¬ 
ulated for the great honor conferred upon 
one of its members, Mr. H. H. Pace, cash¬ 
ier of the Solvent Savings bank of this 
city. At the last national reunion of 
this fraternity Mr. Pace was elected 
grand secretary of the order. This or¬ 
ganization is to be commended for its 
effort to maintain a high standard of 
membership. All the members connected 
with the local branch of this fraternity 
are worthy, honorable citizens and 
would reflect great credit on any or¬ 
ganization. 

INDEPENDENT ORDER 
OF 

IMMACULATES. 

This fraternity was first organized in 
Memphis in 1872 by representative col¬ 
ored men. Its organization consists of 


3 lodges, 8 courts and 2 gems. It has 
a membership of 500. Its endowment is 
$100. It has valuable property in many 
states. Its chief officers are as fol¬ 
lows: L. C. Moore, state and district 
deputy; S. J. Thomas, past treasurer; 
S. Moody, state treasurer; A. R. French, 
past district deputy. This fraternity 
numbers among its members some of 
the best and most progressive people of 
Memphis. It has done much good in the 
past and its prospects for the future 
were never brighter than now. 

INDEPENDENT POLE BEARERS’ AS¬ 
SOCIATION. 

This organization is a purely benevo¬ 
lent one and was organized June 1, 
1868. The original officers were Thomas 
Swan, president; Armstead Robinson, 
vice-president; Carey Griffin, treasurer; 
Allen Martin, secretary; Robert Pointer 
and John Wiseman, chartered members. 
In the early days of this society under 
the matchless leadership of Thos. Swan 
the Pole Bearers were a great political 
factor in this community and were a 
kind of semi-military organization, hav¬ 
ing been permitted by the constituted au¬ 
thorities to bear arms. The society con- 









208 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


sists of 17 different Pole Bearers’ 
unions with a total membership of 600. 
The valuation of its property in Mem¬ 
phis is $10,000. It has no endowment 
but it takes proper care of its sick and 
gives its dead a respectable burial. Their 
chief officers are: John Blackwell, 

president; vice- 

president ; Edward Green, secretary; 
Robert Steele, marshal; Henry Alexan¬ 
der, chief steward. This organization 
is not only one of the oldest in Mem¬ 
phis, but its history has been grand 
and inspiring. Just such an organiza¬ 
tion was needed to inspire the colored 
people in the early days of their free¬ 
dom. It has always been powerful in 
this community and its members have 
always taken pardonable pride in the 
organization. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis in 1892. It has in this city 17 
lodges and 7 courts. Their membership 
in Memphis is 700 and is growing by 
leaps and bounds yearly. Their endow¬ 
ment is $300, which is the largest paid 
by any fraternal organization. The 
value of their local property is $5,000, 
and they have valuable property pos¬ 
sessions elsewhere. Their chief officers 
in this city are B. J. Farnandis, presi¬ 
dent of the endowment board; Dr. G. 
W. Adkins, grand master of the ex¬ 
chequer; A. W. Williams, grand trus¬ 
tee; W. H. Wells, grand master of 
works; Mr. J. H. Brown, grand deputy 
chancellor. This organization is to be 
congratulated for the remarkable prog¬ 
ress it has made along all lines. Its 
leaders are all worthy, intelligent and 
capable men, and this fact has contrib¬ 
uted very largely to its success. Well 
may this organization be proud of its 
great achievements. 

KNIGHTS OF TABOR. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis in 1880 by colored men of influ¬ 


ence and standing. It has 18 lodges. 
Its membership in Memphis is 700. Its 
endowment is $125. The valuation of 
its property elsewhere in the United 
States is in excess of $600,000. Their 
local endowment fund on hand is $4,000. 
There are from 20 to 25 death claims 
paid yearly. Their chief officers aye: 
D. J. Mitchell, C. G. M.; A. H. Oliver, 
V. G. M.; J. B. Willis, C. G. S.; Dr. 
R. G. Martin, C. G. F.; J. B. Willis, 
secretary of the endowment fund. This 
organization stands high in the estima¬ 
tion of many of the best citizens of 
Memphis. Its leaders are able, safe and 
conservative men and its methods are 
such as commend this organization to the 
consideration of thoughtful men. 

MASONS. 

Ancient, Free and Accepted. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis in 1886. It has 17 lodges. Its mem¬ 
bership in Memphis is 1,700, which num¬ 
ber includes 300 female members. Their 
endowment is $200, which is assessed. 
The valuation of their local property is 
$35,000. Their chief officers are: Prof. 
J. A. Henry of Chattanooga, grand mas¬ 
ter; Wm. Porter, deputy grand master; 
T. W. Williams, grand high priest; Miss 
Pearl Hodges, grand matron. This or¬ 
ganization has always been one of the 
most substantial of the fraternities. It 
has kept in touch with the progressive 
spirit of the age and has done much that 
has redounded to the welfare of the col¬ 
ored race. 

MOSAICS. 

The Mosaics as an organization are 
not numerically strong in Memphis, but 
they are quite strong in some parts of 
Tennessee. They are very powerful in 
Arkansas, Kentucky, and other states, 
and have assumed national proportions 
and prominence as a fraternity. The 
ranking member of this fraternity in the 
city of Memphis is Mr. G. W. Fowlkes, 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


209 


■who is a highly intelligent and progres¬ 
sive citizen. The leaders of this organ¬ 
ization are all men noted for their prom¬ 
inence and wealth. One of the founders 
of this order is Hon. John E. Bush, of 
Little Rock, Ark. He has been for many 
years one of the leading politicians of 
that state and has held several federal 
positions of trust and responsibility. He 
is now receiver of the land office in his 
district. He is one of. the wealthiest col¬ 
ored men of the South and has built his 
great fortune by his own foresight and 
indomitable energy. He is a veritable 
burning bush that lights up this organi¬ 
zation, and inspires it with its benefi¬ 
cent rays. His home in Little Rock is 
palatial in its appointments and its oc¬ 
cupants are unbounded in their hospital¬ 
ity. Madam Bush is a charming hostess, 
and their daughter, Miss Stella E. Bush, 
is one of the most talented musicians 
in the state. Mr. Bush lives like an 
Indian Nabob. 

ODD FELLOWS. 

G. U. 0. 0. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis in 1872 with the formation of Mem¬ 
phis star lodge 1501. It has in Memphis 
8 lodges, 4 households of Ruth, 2 Patri¬ 
archies, 2 Juveniles and 1 past grand 
master’s council. The endowment of this 
fraternity costs $325 a year and is as 
follows: For the first year, $50; for 
the second year, $100, and for the third 
year, $200. The whole amount of any 
endowment is paid within 3 months 
after the death of a member. The mem¬ 
bership is as follows: The lodges have 
1,000 members; the households of Ruth, 
400; the Juveniles have 125. The valu¬ 
ation of their property in Memphis and 
vicinity is $38,000. They have cash in 
bank to their credit, $8,200. Their prin¬ 
cipal officers are as follows: F. M. Nes- 
bit, president of Odd Fellows’ Hall Asso¬ 
ciation; W. W. Coleman, secretary of 
Odd Fellows’ Hall Association; Levi S. 


Orr, agent of Odd Fellows’ Hall Asso¬ 
ciation; S. L. Steward, treasurer of Odd 
Fellows’ Hall Association; E. R. Bell, 
president of Odd Fellows’ Home and 
Hospital; Miss Corinne Webster, secre¬ 
tary of the O. F. H. and H.; H. C. Tate, 
agent of the O. F. H. and H.; Wayman 
VVilkerson, treasurer. Past grand mas¬ 
ter’s council. J. W. Harris, worshipful 
grand master; F. W. Nelson, grand sec¬ 
retary; J. J. Evans, treasurer. State 
officers: Levi S. Orr, grand master; 
Prof. W. H. Fort, of Dyersburg, deputy 
grand master; A. T. Morrell, of Colum¬ 
bia, grand treasurer; T. P. Turner, of 
Pulaski, grand secretary; A. N. Wil¬ 
liams, grand director; Dr. C. O. Hunter, 
of Columbia, staite medical examiner; 
Prof. W. S. Thompson, of Nashville, en¬ 
dowment secretary; J. F. Booker, of 
Trenton, endowment treasurer. The Odd 
Fellows have always been a popular fra¬ 
ternity in Memphis, and it has more to 
show for its material progress than any 
other fraternal organization. Its lead¬ 
ers are practical business men and have 
infused their ideas in this organization. 
It has a very large and influential mem¬ 
bership and in aim and in results this 
organization is second to none in Mem¬ 
phis. 

SONS OF ZION. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis in 1867 and consists of one lodge. 
It has no endowment. Its membership 
is 200. The valuation of is property is 
$20,000. Their chief officers are: B. P. 
Covington, president; Alex R. Watson, 
treasurer; H. C. Sheperd, secretary. This 
worthy organization is benevolent. Its 
history is an inspiring one. One of the 
earliest societies in Memphis, it has done 
much for the welfare of our people. 
Their leaders have been men of foresight 
and judgment and they have safely led 
this organization to its present state of 
influence and power. 


210 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


UNITED BROTHERS OF FRIENDSHIP. 

This fraternity was organized in Mem¬ 
phis by representative men of the col¬ 
ored race. It originated in the workings 
of the Underground Railroad, an organ¬ 
ization which did so much for the free¬ 
dom and protection of the American 
slaves. It has 2 lodges, 9 temples and 
2 juvenile courts. Its organization is 
represented by lodges in 33 states of the 
union. Their membership is 900. Their 


endowment is $150. The valuation of 
their property in other states is in ex¬ 
cess of $500,000. Their chief officers 
are: Wm. Porter, P. G. M.; B. F. Moore, 
D. G. M.j Wm. Lane, master; H. J. Phil¬ 
lips, master. This organization still has 
a firm foothold in Memphis. Its past 
has been bright and glorious, and there 
is no reason why its future should not 
be prosperous and secure. Its name de¬ 
serves every success. 


Fraternity Men 


LEVI S. ORR. 

The people of Memphis feel deeply in¬ 
debted to the state of Mississippi for 
providing a birth place for one of the 
best known, best loved and most enter¬ 
prising young men, not only in Mem¬ 
phis, but in the whole state of Tennes¬ 
see. He is a marvel of activity and has 
w r onderful capacity for looking after 
many details. It is doubtful if there 
is another man in Memphis that can 
carry to successful completion as many 
different projects at the same time. He 
is one of the best examples of a high 
class business man with whom the au¬ 
thor has the pleasure of an acquaintance, 
and his promise in any business matter 
is as good as a gold bond. He was edu¬ 
cated in the public schools of Memphis, 
but the greater part of his education has 
been the result of his own self-applica¬ 
tion, together with that broad culture 
that results from contact with the mas¬ 
ter minds in the various walks of life. 
He has been truly the architect of his 
own fortune. He has willed to be some¬ 
thing in life and Providence has done 
the rest. Every honor that could be con¬ 
ferred upon a layman by church or state 
has been his. No man has enjoyed great¬ 
er confidence; no man has been more 
faithful to the trust reposed in him. It 


is a monument to his labors in behalf of 
his people that they have been so thor¬ 
oughly appreciated by all classes, The 
greatest encomiums are usually bestowed 
upon people after their death, but Mr. 
Orr is fortunate in receiving his while 
living. What he has accomplished is 
only possible for those that are endowed 
by nature with his kind of character 
which knows no defeat but death. His 
career in Memphis ought to be an inspira¬ 
tion for every young man in Memphis to 
emulate. No other man under the cir¬ 
cumstances could have accomplished any 
more than he has accomplished, and 
thousands of men wfith superior advan¬ 
tages could not have accomplished the 
half. He is chairman of the board of 
stewards of Collins’ chapel, treasurer of 
Collins’ Chapel church and Sunday school, 
secretary of Pilgrim Rock League, 
agent for the Odd Fellows’ Hall Associa¬ 
tion, president of the Odd Fellows’ Hall 
Association, trustee of the Old Folks and 
Orphans’ Home, president of the Collins 
Chapel Old Folks’ Home, and grand mas¬ 
ter of the Odd Fellows of the state of 
Tennessee. Under such able and wise 
leadership as the Odd Fellows have had 
in him and others it is not to be 
wondered why this fraternity has had 
such great success. It has flourished as 
no other fraternity in the state. Mr. Orr 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


211 


has builded better than he kuew. He 
has served well the interests of others, 
and Providence has blessed him in re¬ 
turn. He has prospered financially as 
few others have done in the same length 
of time. He has had an eye for the fu¬ 
ture and in the days of plenty has laid 
by for the infirmities of age. He has 
some valuable property in the city and 
is adding to it as rapidly as health, 
strength and business success enable him 
to do so. He is the coming fraternity 
man and financier of Memphis and his 
friends are so true and loyal that they 
would rejoice to see him a millionaire 
instead of a man in good circumstances. 



J. B. WILLIS. 

One of the best known, most popular 
and most representative fraternity men 
in the city of Memphis is Mr. J. B. Wil¬ 
lis. For years he has been one of the 
shining lights of the circle of lodgedom. 
He has been especially prominent in the 


Knights of Tabor and has been honored 
by this fraternity with nearly every po¬ 
sition within its gift. He is C. G. S. of 
this fraternity and secretary of the en¬ 
dowment fund. He has made a great 
reputation for efficiency in doing the 
clerical work in his lodge and is one of 
the most capable accountants connected 
with fraternity work. He is connected 
with nearly all the leading fraternities 
of the state and is a power in their 
councils. We were at first inclined to 
omit any reference to this worthy gen¬ 
tleman’s birthplace, but as he has al¬ 
ready made his mark and is a credit to 
the state of his nativity we see no rea¬ 
son why the state of Mississippi should 
not be given due credit for such a worthy 
son. Mr. Willis is one of the most skilled 
artisans in the South. For 15 years he 
followed the trade of a blacksmith 
and became one of the most expert me¬ 
chanics in the business. Since quitting 
the blacksmith work he has been promi¬ 
nently connected with fraternity work 
and the real estate' business. In the 
latter he has been as successful as in 
the former. He has done great work in 
developing and putting on the market 
for sale the beautiful Douglass subdi¬ 
vision in the eastern suburbs of Mem¬ 
phis. By his unceasing energy and en¬ 
terprise he has grown in financial 
strength until he has become one of our 
city’s most solid citizens. He is one of 
the directors of the Solvent Savings 
Bank and Trust Company, and brings to 
it the benefit of his ripe experience and 
business judgment. He is one of the pil¬ 
lars of Providence chapel and is loved 
and esteemed by the entire congregation. 
He is a race loving citizen and has done 
his full duty in promoting the race’s 
welfare. He is the personification of 
kindness and affability and a man of 
real worth. 


212 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Furniture Dealers 



Gillis Bros.427 Beale 

I WORLD’S SUPPLY CO. & EX- ? 
• ? 

CHANGE MART. I 

! I 

4 New and second-hand furniture, • 
1 stoves, ranges, carpets and mat- i 
? ting. We make a specialty of ? 
| repairing folding beds, stoves, ? 
| ranges, resilver mirrors, make old i 
| furniture look new. All work | 
f guaranteed at reasonable prices. f 
We pack, ship and store house- ? 
i hold goods. If you wish to sell 4 
? or buy anything, call and see us. f 
| Wholesale agents. Supplies and | 
| novelties. Highest grade toilet i 
f articles and fine perfumes. Sole | 
l distributors of the Famous My | 
4 Flower and Ever-Lasting Love-Me ? 
! Quick Colognes. All pure extracts ! 
| of flowers. The odors are sweet, i 
f soft and lasting. Try either of ? 
| them and you will tell your | 
£ friends it is the best on earth. i 

i * 


No other family of brothers in the 
community has more of the hustling, en¬ 
terprising, determined spirit than the 
Gillis Brothers. In this respect they are 
in a class by themselves. Their team¬ 
work is so smooth and effective that it 
excites the admiration of all their ac¬ 
quaintances. They have ventured into 
a new kind of business and have brought 
to it that never-say-die spirit that has 
always brought them success, and there 
is no reason why they should not gain 
their greatest success in their present 
business. They are all intelligent, ac¬ 
tive and capable business men, and are 
complete masters of every business ven¬ 
ture involving their interests. They 
have real Anglo-Saxon push and grit and 
with more determined business men of 
this class the colored business men of 
Memphis would score a great commer¬ 
cial triumph. They are blessed with the 
encouragement and inspiration of a dear 
mother, who has ever been solicitous of 
their welfare. Their only sister, Mrs. 
Clara Pratt, is the devoted and estima¬ 
ble wife of Mr. James Pratt, of the 
postoffice department. Be sure to read 
their ad. 


Williams, J. W. & Co.347 Hernando 




J. W. WILLIAMS & CO. 

Dealers in 

Second-hand Furniture. 

Furniture Packers and Shippers 
to all Points. 

Furniture Repairing, Carpet and 
Matting Laying. 

347 Hernando Street. 
Memphis. Tenn. 

Memphis ’Phone 2580. 











THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


213 


Furniture Repairers and Upholsterers 


Boyd, J. G.418 Lauderdale 

Mr. Boyd is probably the best known 
workman in his line in the city of Mem¬ 
phis and is capable of giving perfect 
satisfaction. 

Edwards, Wm.869 Jefferson 

Mr. Edwards is a pleasant gentleman 
and as thoroughly accomplished in his 
work as he is pleasant. 

Foster, Moses.207 Ayers 

Friarson, Jarrett A.327 N. Dunlap 

Isabel & Hill.359 1-2 Calhoun 


| — • — * 


ISABEL & HILL, 

Repairers. 

On Mattresses, Stoves, Upholster¬ 
ing, Cabinet Work, Caneing, Key- 


I 


? fitting, Packing and Shipping. : 
I 359 1-2 Calhoun Street. | 

| Memphis. Tenn, j 


Mr. Isabel is a young man thoroughly 
equipped for success in his trade. He 
is steady, honest and reliable and worthy 
of the patronage of all. 


Jackson, R.693 Marshall 

Johnson, Will .238 S. Rayburn 

Lundy & Phillips.574 Lauderdale 


l GEO. C. LUNDY. 

| Furniture Repairing and Chair ? 
| Caneing a Specialty. i 

* Carpet Cleaning. i 

? Memphis ’Phone 2285. | 

• 715 Moore Ave. Memphis, Tenn. i 


Maxwell, Joe.300 Gayoso 

Warren, C. W.395 Linden 


I C. W. WARREN I 


Upholsterer, Cabinet Maker and 
General Repairer of Any and All 
Things at Moderate Prices. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. 

All Kinds of Screens Made to 
Order. 

395 Linden St. Memphis, Tenn. 


Williams, Jno.347 S. 3d 


Glaziers 


Bonner, Jefferson... .H. A. Carroll & Co. 

Mr. Bonner is one of the most expe¬ 
rienced glaziers of Memphis and is a 
workman of class and skill. 

Bowman, Haywood. .H. A. Carroll & Co. 

Mr. Bowman is one of the best gla¬ 
ziers in the business and he is as good 
a trap drummer as he is a glazier. 
Childs, Richard. .Cole Manufacturing Co. 

Davenport, Julius.141 W. Ga. 

Dozier, Ernest.. Cole-Lilly Paint & Glass 
Co. 

Greenlaw, Richard.141 W. Ga. 

Harris, Henry.508 N. 4th 

Herron, Robert.Farrell Calhoun Co. 


House, E... Cole-Lilly Paint & Glass Co. 

Mr. House is still a young man, but 
he has had nearly 30 years’ experience 
as a glazier and painter. He is an ex¬ 
pert in both of these professions and has 
an enviable reputation as a first class 
workman. He has a nice home out in 
the Douglass subdivision and has bright 
prospects for future success. 

House, Wm. .Memphis Paint & Glass Co. 
Jackson, Oscar. .Memphis Sash & Door 
Co. 

Mr. Jackson is a young man of ability 
both as a workman and on general prin¬ 
ciples. He is prominently identified with 
one of our local fraternities. 




















214 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Johnson, Henry. .Cole Manufacturing Co. 
Letcher, Emmet.. Cole Manufacturing Co. 

Mr. Letcher is one of the most intel¬ 
ligent and ambitious young men in Mem¬ 
phis and as a glazier is one of the most 
skillful. He has a talented daughter and 
an interesting family. 

Robinson, Thomas..Cole Manufacturing 
Co. 

Watson, James..Geo. I. Drew Paint & 
Glass Co. 


Webb, Samuel.. .Cole Manufacturing Co. 

Mr. Webb is an artist in his profes¬ 
sion and has had long experience in it. 
West, Wm. A..Cole Manufacturing Co. 

Mr. West is one of the oldest and 
most skillful glaziers in the city of Mem¬ 
phis and is an authority in his . line. He 
is a quiet, honest, conscientious man in 
his work and enjoys the confidence and 
respect of all. 

Wright, Tom.Tennessee Lumber Co. 


Granolith and Concrete 


Green, Harvey.657 E. Cherry 

Mr. Green is a young man, but he is 
thoroughly experienced in his business 
and has many evidences of his skill in 
this city. 

Johnson, Fred.White 

With Mr. Johnson it is not “too much 
Johnson,” but not enough of such capa¬ 
ble men when the matter of first class 
ability and work is considered. He is 
both a high class workman and a high 
class man. 



Lux, A 


611 Georgia 


A. LUX. * 

| Granolith and Concrete, 

i Efficient Service, 

f Courteous and Prompt Attention. 

| 611 Ga. Ave. New ’Phone. 


*.... 






Mr. Lux has rapidly come to the front 
as a first class artisan in his line. The 
author knows the character of his work 
and takes pleasure in recommending it 
as being the very best. 

Martin, I. J.672 Poplar 

Piguee, Nelson.Jones 

Polk, C.944 Louisa 

Mr. Polk has had many years’ expe¬ 
rience both as workman and contractor 
in his business and is capable of giving 
perfect satisfaction. 

Sims, R. W.710 Beale 


| New ’Phone 2944. 

f R. W. SIMS, 

f Contractor. 

| Brick and Stone Work, Paving, 
• Concrete and Granolith Work. 

? Prompt Attention to All Orders. 
! 710 Beale Ave. Memphis, Tenn. 


•* 

: 


•* 


Mr. Sims is one of the oldest and most 
experienced contractors in brick and 
stone work in the city of Memphis. He 
has had 28 years of experience in the 
same. He is an expert authority in the 
paving business and has been connected 
as contractor in that business not only 
in Memphis, but in other large cities. 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


215 


Grocers 


Alexander, J. A.1080 Thomas 

Allman, A.75 W. Carolina 

A. ALLMAN, I 

| Dealer in f 

i Staple and Fancy Groceries. ! 

New ’Phone 3183. • 

75 West Carolina Avenue. | 

Memphis, Tenn. I 

Anderson, B. B.876 Hawley 

Ayers, David.973 Louisiana 

Bailey, Green.642 Larose 

Beasley, Moses.572 Suzette 

Bibbs, Ella.589 E. Ga. 

Brown & Nesbit.629 Park 


Mr. Nesbit has been an experienced 
contractor in Memphis for many years. 
The mere fact that the firm of Brown 
& Nesbit has a contract is sufficient 
guarantee that the work will be satis¬ 
factorily done. Mr. Nesbit is a wide¬ 
awake business man with a great ca¬ 
pacity for labor. He is quiet, courte¬ 
ous and gentlemanly, and has a host of 
friends. In his business success he does 
not overlook the spiritual side of life, 
for he is deacon of the Congregational 
church. He is happily married and a 
devoted wife and one child form his fam¬ 
ily circle. 

Bumpus, Wm.425 Beale 


| BROWN & NESBIT, 

Staple and Fancy Groceries. ? 
| Game, Poultry, Vegetables and ! 
• Fruits. Meat Market. 4 

| New ’Phone 3121 629 Polk Ave. | 

1 Memphis, Tenn. i 

i 4 

The firm of Brown & Nesbit is famous 
both commercially and industrially, for 
these gentlemen are not only purvey¬ 
ors of groceries to the public, but they 
are one of the leading plastering firms 
of the city. Each one of these gentle¬ 
men is a master in the plastering busi¬ 
ness and has accumulated in it a com¬ 
petency. 

Mr. Brown is a fine business man and 
an affable gentleman. His beautiful 
home on St. Paul avenue is one of the 
most attractive cottages in Memphis, 
and a model of coziness and elegance. 
He is an energetic, thrifty business man 
and is rapidly climbing the hill of suc¬ 
cess. He has a charming wife and 
daughter to cheer him in life’s battles 
and to minister to his comforts and 
happiness. 


! W. M. BUMPUS, 

• t 

i Staple and Fancy Groceries. 4 

4 Meat Market. 

• 

4 Only first-class Grocery and | 
i Meat Market in the City. ? 

; Cut Prices. • 

• • 

• Prompt Delivery to All Parts of • 

| the City. 

| Memphis ’Phone 783. 42*5 Beale. | 

| Memphis, Tenn. 4 


HIS POETRY. 

God made the world and rested; 

God made man—and rested; 

Then God made woman; 

Since then neither God nor man has 
rested. 

Campbell, Eliza, Mrs.19 Nichols 

Colbert, F. C.State & Marble 

Dooley, Wm.390V2 Beale 




WM. DOOLEY, 

Dealer in 

Staple and Fancy Groceries. 

390% Beale Avenue. 

Tenn. 


j Memphis, 




















216 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Mr. Dooley is not an Irishman, but 
simply a plain and unpretentious Amer¬ 
ican citizen. He is a man of versatile 
ability and is at home in many differ¬ 
ent kinds of endeavor. He is a first 
class penman; he has taught school; he 
is a manufacturer of ice cream and an 
all-around genius. The author believes 
that Mr. Dooley could make a living in 
the desert of Sahara a thousand miles 
from an oasis, so resourceful is he. 

Downey, Annie.322 Sanderson 

Drish, C. H.646 Alabama 

C. H. DRISH I 

| Dealer in ? 

i Fresh Meats, Staple and Fancy | 
f Groceries. • 

l Feed. ? 

• Special Attention to Country Or- | 
f ders. Special prices on Omega ? 
| Flour. ? 

? Memphis ’Phone 1640. • 

! 646 Alabama. Memphis, Tenn. | 

•|».#.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. # .. # .. # .. a .,|. 

Edwards, Samuel.609 Polk 

Ficklin, S. J. 865 Atlantic 


S. J. FICKLIN. ? 

s First Class Grocer. • 

• Your Patronage Solicited. f 

| 865 Atlantic Memphis, Tenn. | 

Mr. Ficklin is well known to the citi¬ 
zens of Memphis. For years he has 
been closely identified with church work 
and business affairs. He runs a baggage 
and express wagon and is an energetic 
and worthy citizen. 


Fields, H. L.1368 Johnson 

j H. L. FIELDS, I 

| Dealer in ? 

i Staple and Fancy Groceries. ! 
• Meat Market. f 

? 1368 Johnson Ave. Memphis, Tenn ? 

»%. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ,. a .. a - a .. a .. a .. a .. a ,, a .. a .. a ,»T. 


Mr. Fields is the leading colored gro¬ 
cer of Klondyke. He has accumulated 
considerable property in that section of 
the city and is rated as one of Klon- 
dyke’s most substantial citizens. 

Gentry, Walter L.860 Porter 

Grizzard, Chas.765 Florida 


Patronize Mr. Grizzard. 

Staple and Fancy Groceries. | 

Meat aMrket. | 

765 Florida Ave. Memphis, Tenn. £ 


Hancock, W. D.410 Beale 


! W. D. HANCOCK, 

| Staple and Fancy Groceries. | 

| —and— f 

4 Confections. ? 

# • 

i 410 Beale Ave. Memphis, Tenn. j 

•T«. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. s .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .»J« 


Mr. Hancock is a safe and conserva¬ 
tive business man and has been very 
successful. He has push, hustle and 
confidence in himself, and these quali¬ 
ties have brought him thus far. 


Harwell & Jordan... .Orleans & Phelan 
Hawkins, Wm.936 N. 2d 


q*.#.. a .. a .. a .. a » a ..#..*.. a ..*.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..«.. a ..*.. a ..«.< 

I WM. HAWKINS, 

; Grocery and Meat Market, 
f Everything First Class. 

• Telephone. 

! 936 N. 2d St. 






Memphis, Tenn. 1 




One of the most progressive and pros¬ 
perous merchants of North Memphis is 
Mr. Wm. Hawkins, who runs a first 
class grocery and meat market on N. 
2d street. He has made remarkable 
progress since coming to Memphis and 
engaging in business. He has accumu¬ 
lated some valuable property, which the 
writer had the pleasure of inspecting. 
He is a bundle of nervous energy and 















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


217 


grit and at no distant day will be one 
of the leaders in the financial circles of 
Memphis. 

Hill, Lime.Patton 

Hill, W. C.293 Gayoso 

Hogan, John H.416 Railroad 

| J. H. HOGAN, 

Grocery and Meat Market. ? 

| 416 R. R. Ave. Memphis, Tenn. • 

i • 

House, J«flin C.823 N. Claybrook 

Hunter, Joseph H.701 Dixon 


PATRONIZE ! 

| JOSEPH HUNTER, ? 

f Dealer in | 

| Groceries, Fancy and Staple. f 

4 701 Dixon Ave. Memphis Tenn. ? 

• : 


Jamison, Chas.63 S. Somerville 

Jones, Sandy.1114 Lamar 

Kirby, Richmond .Trezevant 

Lee, Wm.381 Allen 

Leverett, Phreny.936 Florida 

. a ..«.. a . 


i Buy of 

f MR. LEVERETT, ! 

| Staplo and Fancy Groceries. f 

| 936 Florida ave. Memphis, Tenn. ? 


Little, Leroy.508 Alston 

Love, Jno. W.E. Florida 

Martin, A. J.421 Monroe 

McHill, Henry E.124 W. Carolina 

McDonald, Lucy.273 N. Dunlap 

McFaddon, Peter.631 Georgia 


4 ^*-**-^.*^.*^. 

| J. W. OSBORNE, | 

l Dealer in i 

4 Staplo and Fancy Groceries. • 

? Oysters, Fresh Meat and Game | 

| in Season. | 

• Hay, Corn, Oats and Bran. f 

Telephone: Old 2220. | 

I 1300 Kansas St. Memphis, Tenn. i 

4 • 


McLain, James.133 Jones 

Murphy, Felix.Parnell 

Oates, C. C.902 Olympic 

Osborne, John W.1300 Kansas 

Pope, Louisa.324 N. Pauline 

Purnell & Clay (No. 1)..695 S. Orleans 

Purnell & Clay (No. 2).386 Monroe 

Purnell & Clay (No. 3).Not located 


! PURNELL & CLAY, ? 

4 Dealers in • 

? Fancy Groceries, Kansas City ? 

i Meats, Hay, Com, Oats and Bran. | 

? Free Delivery. ' 4 

| (No. 1) Memphis ’Phone 1551. T 

4 695 Orleans. | 

t 4 

^•.•..•.. a .. a -. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a „ a .»*. 



H. C. PURNELL. 

The writer cheerfully takes up the 
agreeable task of saying a few words 
concerning Mr. H. C. Purnell, whom he 
has known longer than any other man 
in Memphis. Mr. Purnell has always 
been a hustler and it is doubtful if he 
has ever closed both eyes when asleep; 
for he has always had an eye open to 
take advantage of some opportunity that 
































218 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


would enable him to get up in the world. 
A little over a decade ago he began busi¬ 
ness in partnership with Mr. F. D. Clay 
with a capital of less than $100, and by 
unremitting effort and business shrewd¬ 
ness the two have run this original cap¬ 
ital up to several thousand dollars and 
are now rated in Bradstreet’s agency as 
business men of high standing. Mr. 
Purnell is jolly and good natured and 
has the faculty of making friends and 
gaining the patronage of the people. He 
has a glad hand and a cheerful word for 
•everybody’ and knows every turn that 
will enable him to earn an honest dollar. 
He is not a mossback in business and is 
not satisfied with the ancient method 
•of sitting down and waiting for busi¬ 
ness to come to him. He believes in the 
motto that God helps those that help 
themselves, and consequently he goes 
out in the highways and byways after 
his patrons and induces them to give 
him their patronage. Mainly through 
his enterprise the firm of Purnell & 
Clay has three prosperous stores, all lo¬ 
cated in desirable sections of Memphis, 
and these stores are a monument to his 
unremitting and tireless energy. Mr. 
Purnell is prominently connected with 
the Odd Fellows’ fraternity and a power 
in the councils of that order. His affa¬ 
ble and estimable wife is the leading 
cateress of Memphis and presides with 
grace over their cozy and elegant home. 

F. D. CLAY. 

Mr. Clay is the junior partner of the 
firm of Clay & Purnell and is the man 
on the inside behind the counter. He 
has the distinction of being one oi: the 
quietest and most retiring men of Mem¬ 
phis. He will never have any trouble 
on account of keeping late hours, for 
like Ebenezer “he goes to bed at nine.” 
Mr. Clay is a slave to duty and is one 
of the most punctual and reliable men 
with whom the writer is acquainted. He 
may properly be called the colored Ital¬ 
ian because he is so steadfast to busi¬ 


ness and punctilious in its performance. 
He is a great man because he knows 
how to look after the little details of 
business and to execute orders. In his 
particular capacity Mr. Clay has been 
as necessary to the success of the firm 
as has been his partner in a different 
capacity. The man behind the counter 
is the key to the whole business situa¬ 
tion and without him the business would 
be imperiled. He is a business man from 
start to finish and has contributed much 
of the effort that has brought success 
to his firm. He has always been eco¬ 
nomical and thrifty and has well pro¬ 
vided for the proverbial rainy day. He 
has prospered financially and is a solid 
man in the commercial world. He 
knows the value of a dollar and puts 
every one out of circulation that he can 
get his hands on. He is a kind, sympa¬ 
thetic, amiable gentleman, and has in 
equal degree with his partner the happy 
faculty of making friends. He is a di¬ 
rector of the new Pythian Savings Bank 
and one of its most substantial backers. 

Roberts, Wm.623 E. Stevens 

Robinson, Wm.954 Carnes 

Rudd Bros.574 S. 4th 

I RUDD BROTHERS, I 

• • 

t Cheap Cash Grocery. ? 

T Meats, High Grade Flour, Canned ? 

• Goods, Cigars and Tobacco. ? 

n • 

| Give Us a Trial. T 

New ’Phone 3308. 

i 574 S. 4th St. Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 

Mr. Rudd’s grocery is in the school 
season the headquarters for the pupils 
of Clay Street school. Mr. Rudd is an 
enterprising business man and has been 
very successful in his various under 


takings. 

Scott, Chas.6231/2 N. 2d 

Scott, Joel (No. 1).894 S. 3d 

Scott, Joel (No. 2).860 Porter 








THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


219 


4 • 

| J. L. SCOTT, f 

£ 

• Dealer in | 

• • 

| Staple and Fancy Groceries. f 

| (No. 1) 894 S. 3d. ? 

(No. 2) 860 Porter. • 

• • 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

• • 

Smith, C. J.821 Olympic 

Smith, J. W.9th 

Tillman, John.317 Auction 

Turner, Chas.Silver Age 

Voss, Robert.400 Ayers 

Witt, P. E.297 W. Virginia 




•..•..•..a..*. 


! P. E. WITT, i 

! Staple and Fancy Groceries. 1 

i Fruits, Cakes and Ice Cream. ? 
| Phone 767. f 

i 297 W. Va. Ave. Memphis. f 

Yates, E. C.72 Callwell 




E. C. YATES, \ 

Dealer in 

Staple and Fancy Groceries. ] 

No- 1—72 Caldwell. 

No. 2—27 W. Jackson Mound. ] 
Welcome at All Times. ] 

New ’Phone 2762. Free Delivery. \ 
Memphis, Tenn. ] 


Gun and Locksmiths 


Nabors, Thos.410 Monroe 

Mr. Nabors is a sort of mechanical 
genius that is very difficult to classify. 
However, we have carefully written him 
up elsewhere. 

Walker, Conner.With Henniger 

Mr. Walker is a mechanical and elec¬ 
trical genius. He advertises that he can 
Tepair anything. He is also a practical 
tool maker. No contrivance seems to 


be beyond the bounds of his understand¬ 
ing. He is an expert bicycle repairer and 
manipulator of electrical devices. He is 
a practical mechanic and is said to have 
constructed for himself an automobile., 
which not only gave satisfaction, but 
was the admiration and wonder of hi3 
friends. There seems to be no reason¬ 
able limit to the possibilities of his 
genius. 


- *■ 

Hack Owners 


Barnwell, Louis..W. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 


• 

i 

i 

I 

: 

• 

i 

I 


Bessent, H. W.Gayoso Hack Stand 






Office: Residence: 

Both ’phones 1194. New ’Phone 
1331. 

LOUIS BARNWELL, 

North Court St. Hack Stand. 
Hacks Nos. 31, 1 and 4. 

Baggage Wagons. • 

? 


WILLIS BESSENT, 


Carriages Nos. 61 and 62. 
Gayoso Hack Stand, Cor. Main 
and Gayoso Streets. 

Both Phones 2030. 

First Class Carriages Day or 
Night for All Occasions. 

Residence: Memphis ’Phone 2733. 



















220 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Broglin, Moses.Union Depot 

Davis, Hattie, Mrs.440 S. Main 


| MRS. HATTIE DAVIS, ! 

f Carriages, Coupes, Baggage and ? 
| Express Wagons. ? 

i All Calls Promptly Answered. i 
f Perfect Service Guaranteed. 4 
| New ’Phone 1845. * 

• 440 S. Main St. Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 

Dow, Laurenzo.N. Court St. Stand 


f 

: 

$ 


4 

: 

i 

•H* 






For Morning Calls For Evening 
Calls. Both Phones 1736. 
Hack Stand. Both Phones 1194. 

LAURENZO DOW, 

Hacks and Coupes. 

For Balls, $4.00. 

For Theaters, $3.00. 

For Funerals, $4.00. 

Good Service Will Be Given. 
214 Turley St. 

Memphis, Tenn. 






Eckles, Major. .N. Court St. Hack Stand 

Johns, James. Gayoso Hack Stand 

Lewis, Wm.Gayoso Hack Stand 

Lipiscomb, Chas..N. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 

Perry, John. .N. Court St. Hack Stand 

Powell, Jack.Gayoso Hack Stand 


| WILLIAM LEWIS, | 

Hack No. 63. 

f A first-class new carriage for all | 
| Occasions, Day or Night. 

f Residence: Memphis Phone 1655. ? 
! Stand: Main and Gayoso Sts. | 
i Both Phones 2030. 4 

4 ! 

Robinson, Bark. .N. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 


Robinson, Oscar N. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 

Thomas, Preston..N. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 

Wallace, Clarence. .N. Court St. Hack 
Stand. 

Watson, Duke.Gayoso Hack Stand 

Wilson, Wm.Gayoso Hack Stand 

Wooten, B. H.Gayoso Hack Stand 


! B. H. WOOTEN, 

f Hack No. 56. | 

i First Class Carriage for All Oc- • 
f casions, Day or Night. ? 

| Parties, Balls and Weddings a i 
4 Specialty. 4 

| Stand: Cor. Main and Gayoso St. | 
i Both Phones 2030. f 

| Residence: New Phone 397. | 

| Memphis, Tenn. 4 


Hair Dressers 


Burchett, Hattie, Mrs.... 368 E. Butler 

MRS. HATTIE BURCHETT, 4 

4 Hail* Dressing, Manicuring, | 

? Shampooing and Massaging. f 

? 368 E. Butler Ave. | 

4 Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

Mrs. Burchett is one of our best 
known hair dressers and has a well es¬ 
tablished and successful business. 

Cook, Mamie, Miss.240 Turley 


Miss Cook is not only a hair dresser 
of ability, but she is a specialist in the 
treatment of the scalp for dandruff and 
other diseases. She also makes to order 
all styles of hair goods. 

Gross, J. W., Mrs.683 S. Orleans 


t MRS. J. W. GROSS, | 

• .. Hair Dressing, Manicuring, 4 

l Shampooing, Scalp Treatment, f 
4 and Massaging. I 

? 683 S. Orleans St. 4 

| Memphis, Tenn. f 




















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


221 


Mrs. Gross enjoys a wide reputation 
as a first class artist in her line and it 
is doubtful if she has a superior in the 
city. Certainly it is a fact that she 
has but few equals. Her services are 
in great demand among the wealthiest 
class of citizens who seem to think that 
no other person can give such complete 
satisfaction as she. 

Hilliard, Laura, Mrs.386 Driver 

Several kind friends have very highly 
recommended Mrs. Hilliard to the au¬ 
thor as being a first class hair dresser. 

Jones, Mamie B., Miss.349 Turley 

Miss Jones has a splendid reputation 
in her profession and is a very capable 
and artistic hair dresser. 

Plump, Elizabeth, Mrs.621 St. Paul 

The word Plump in its ordinary sig¬ 
nificance means symmetrical and round. 
The subject of this sketch is a well 
rounded woman in ability, for she is not 
only a first class artist in the hair dress¬ 
ing and manicuring line, but she is a 
trained nurse. She is very popular and 
is identified with the woman’s depart¬ 
ment of the Knights of Pythias. 

Poe, Lizzie, Mrs.714 Moore 

Mrs. Poe has brought the same energy 
into the business of hair dressing that 
she has always possessed and will, no 
doubt, be among the best. 

Pope, Dora, Mrs.R. 606 Jackson 

Mrs. Pope enjoys a splendid reputa¬ 
tion as a hair dresser. She was highly 
recommended to the author by those 
who were in position to know her as 
being one of the best. 

. . 

MADAM RAY, ? 

I Experienced Hair Manipulator. ; 

a Manufacturers’ Wigs, Braids, a 

Puffs, and Pompadours. 

| First Class Artist. | 

• Your Patronage Solicited. • 

| 219 S. 3d St. | 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 

• • 



Ray, Delia, Mrs.219 S. 3d 


Madam Delia Ray is an authority in 
her line of business. She is a manufac¬ 
turer of wigs, braids, puffs, curls, watch 
chains, earrings, breast pins, bracelets, 
and hair flowers. She mastered the art 
of making paper flowers, paper boxes, 
lamp shades, hats and cloth flowers. 
For ten years she traveled teaching art 
work in various cities of the North and 
South. She won the premium at the 
State Fair at Springfield, Ill., in 1897. 
Madam Ray’s New Discovery stops hair 
from turning gray, makes gray hair 
black, stops hair from falling out and 
promotes its general growth. Agents 
wanted. 


Rodman, E., Mrs.699 S. Orleans 








1 


MRS. E. RODMAN, 

Hair Dresser and Manufacturer ! 

of Braids from Combings and I 

Bandeaus. 

T Rodman’s Hair Preparation for ? 

• Sale 50c Per Bottle. • 

f 699 S. Orleans St. 

| Memphis, Tenn. | 









222 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Mrs. Rodman has had 8 years’ expe¬ 
rience in the business she advertises and 
her own experience with her methods is 
one of the best recommendations, for 
under her system of hair treatment and 
cultivation her own hair has grown mar¬ 
velously. Many who know her person¬ 
ally attest this fact. At the beginning 
Mrs. Rodman’s own hair was about an 
inch long; now its length is great and 
its quality compares favorably with the 
best and shows the great value of her 
remedy and methods. We had the pleas¬ 
ure of meeting Mrs. Rodman and judg¬ 
ing from what her friends say we have 

no doubt that her system of hair culti¬ 

vation is everything she advertises. 

Smith, Oscar, Mrs.575 Polk 

»£°.a..*.. 

| MRS. OSCAR SMITH, I 

| Hair Dresser, Manicuring and | 
| Shampooing. | 

f Memphis ’Phone 2971. I 

| 575 Polk Ave. ? 

• Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

Mrs. Smith is admitted by all that 
know her ability as being one of the 
leaders in her profession, which she has 
long and successfully followed. She is 
one of the best known artists in the city 
and has a lucrative patronage. She is 
a highly intelligent woman and has the 
ability to master whatever she under¬ 
takes. She is the accomplished niece of 
Mr. Wm. H. Barnett of the undertaking 
firm of Carson, Barnett & Co. 

Taylor, Cora, Mrs.857 Lane 

The author knows of Mrs. Taylor by 
the splendid reputation given her by 
her friends, who say that she is one of 
the best. 

Turner, Mabel, Mrs.776 Walnut 

Mrs. Turner is well known as an ac¬ 
complished artist in her line. She has 
experience and ability and can do the 
best service. 


Vandyke, Sallie, Miss.615 Monroe 


Scalp Treated. 

Hair of all Styles Made to Order. ? 
Hair Straightened. i 

Straightening Combs for Sale. ? 

SALLIE VANDYKE. 

I 615 Monroe Ave. ? 

• Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 


Miss Vandyke is a woman of rare abil¬ 
ity and has a versatile turn of mind. 
As a hair dresser and manipulator she is 
second to none in the city. She is a 
fashionable up-to-date dressmaker with 
the reputation that would make anyone 
feel proud. In her business as a hair 
dresser she has been eminently success¬ 
ful and is an authority in it. 


Washington, Mary T. Mrs., 672 Williams 


I MRS MARY T. WASHINGTON, I 

1 First Class | 

| Hair Dressing and Manicuring f 

{ Memphis ’Phone 2017. ? 

| 672 Williams Ave. » 

i Memphis, Tenn. i 

? * 


We have not the pleasure of being 
personally acquainted with Mrs. Wash¬ 
ington, but we have no doubt this dis¬ 
tinguished American name is able to do 
well whatever she advertises. 


Wert, Pennie R., Miss. .. .1328 Kennedy 

MISS PENNIE R. WERT, | 

• Specialist. £ 

| Hair Dressing, Manicuring, Fa- f 
f cial Massage and Braid Making. | 
| 1328 Kennedy St. T 

• Memphis, Tenn. ! 

• • 

Miss Wert comes >vell recommended in 
the mastery of her business. Her friends 
claim that she has first class ability in 
her line. 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


223 


Halls 







ODD FELLOWS’ HALL 


Ham’s Hall .Gayoso 

Odd Fellows’ Hall.98 S. 4th' 


This hall is a magnificent 3-story 
brick building right in the heart of the 
business section of Memphis. It is the 
property of the Odd Fellows’ fraternity 
and a monument to their progressiveness. 


Union Aid.Washington 

Zion Hall-.435 Beale 

This hall is the property of the Sons 
of Zion, one of the oldest and most re¬ 
putable benevolent societies of Mem¬ 
phis. It is located on one of our most 
prominent thoroughfares. 


Harness Makers 


Dixon, Wm. M.21 N. Neely 


Hatters 


Joyner, Edward.T. W. Leidy 

Mr. Joyner is one of the best known 
hatters in the South. He is well and fa¬ 
vorably known by the leading hat manu¬ 
facturers of the North and is recognized 


by them as a high class man in every de¬ 
partment of the hat business. He has 
at different times placed upon the mar¬ 
ket popular styles of hats invented by 
himself and he is without doubt the 
most popular hat man in Memphis. 






















224 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 



A. MEANS 

Means, A. & Son.125 Gayoso 

Mr. Means for years lias run the only 
first class hat store owned exclusively 


by colored people. He and his son have 
had long experience in the hat business 
and their workmanship has been of such 
a character as to give this firm an envi¬ 
able reputation in business circles. Mr. 
Means is one of our oldest and best 
known citizens and no man stands higher 
in the estimation of all classes. He is 
a man of considerable wealth and has 
a commodious home on South Cynthia 
street. He has always been a good citi¬ 
zen and has done his part to promote 
the same. An estimable wife and three 
children form his family circle. 

! A. MEANS & SON, | 

i The Hatters. • 

* • 

• Keep constantly on hand a se- f 
? lect assortment of the Latest T 
| Styles of Soft and Stiff Hats. | 

• Hats neatly cleaned, dyed and re- f 

! paired. Mail and telephone or- T 
i ders promptly attended. i 

s Satisfaction Guaranteed. : 

New ’Phone 2905. f 

| 125 Gayoso Ave. | 

i Memphis, Tenn. • 

$ • 


Head Waiters 


Banks, Wm.Tennessee Club 

It requires experience and ability of 
the highest order to give complete sat¬ 
isfaction in a first class club. Mr. 
Banks has both and his friends will 
bank on this fact. 

Brane, John. Bismarck 

Mr. Brane is one of the most experi¬ 
enced and successful head waiters in the 
business. He is a practical, energetic, 
thrifty young man who has made his 
way by efficiency of service and strict 
attention to business. 


Gaines, Levi.Cordova 

This popular hostelry is very fortu¬ 
nate in having at its head such an ac¬ 
complished and experienced gentleman 
as Mr. Gaines. He has already gained 
his reputation. 

Gillam, John W.... .Waldorf Cafe 

Nothing but a high class man could 
occupy such a responsible position as 
head waiter in this popular cafe. Mr. 
Gillam is such a man and his friends are 
proud of him. 

Greenland, Samuel. Arlington 

Mr. Greenland is not as his name sug¬ 
gests, but he is very ripe in experi- 




















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


225 


ence and ability in his profession. He is 
one of the best artists in the country. 



Dunn, Simon.Peabody 

Mr. Dunn is probably the best known 
and certainly one of the best liked men 
in his profession. He is experienced and 
efficient and is as popular as he is ef¬ 
ficient. He has a smile and kind word 
for everyone and always has an eye seek¬ 
ing the main chance. 

Kittrell, Robert.Fransioli 

Mr. Kittrell creditably fills a position 
of great trust and responsibility. He 
represents the very highest efficiency in 
his profession. 

Locke, Alonzo.Gayoso 

Mr. Locke is connected with the larg¬ 
est hotel in the city and by experience 
and skill in his profession well merits 
the honor of his position. He enjoys 


the confidence of his employers to a per¬ 
fect degree and worthily deserves their 
appreciation. He is a stockholder in the 
Solvent Savings Bank and is a rising 
young man. 



Orr, Andrew.. Floyd’s 

Mr. Orr is a fine gentleman and is as 
big of heart as he is in body. He is an 
experienced and capable man in his par¬ 
ticular sphere and knows his business 
from a to z. He is congenial and is per¬ 
sonally well liked by all that know him. 

Ray, Chester. 

Mr. Ray is a competent and highly 
successful man in his profession. He 
has had long experience and is master 
of the ins and outs of his business. His 
record is perfect for efficiency and serv¬ 
ice, and he commands the confidence and 
esteem of all his acquaintances. 








226 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Horseshoers 


Bell & Brown.283 Gayoso 

Campbell, Robert A.733 Alaska 

Clark, Edward B.R. 374 N. Dunlap 

Conley, Henry C.287 Queen 

Fagin, J. H.453 Monroe 

Mr. Fagin is one of the most accom¬ 
plished members of his trade and is 

known as one of the very best. 

Felton & Guy.166 N. Fourth 

Gwyn, Frank.G. W. Scruggs & Bro. 

Hampton, Walter.151 St. Paul 

Hanger, S. C.237 Jefferson 

Jones, Counsel.748 McKinley 

Joyce, Anthony.334 Madison 

Mr. Joyce is one of the leading black¬ 
smiths of the city of Memphis, and is a 
thoroughly trained and experienced arti¬ 
san. 

Lyons, J. S.644 Saffarans 

Mitchell, Edward.600 S. Wellington 


Mitchell, W. E.453 Monroe 

Moore, E. D.127 E. Georgia 

Shanklin & Donegan.132 S. Fourth 

l A. L. SHANKLIN & DONEGAN, f 

l -Practical- l 

| -Horseshoers- • 

| All orders promptly attended to. * 
| Mempis Phone. 132 S. 4th St. | 
| Memphis, Tenn. • 

.9..*. •*.•*••••• •"••••-••►J* 

Stanley, Jas. S.237 Jefferson 

Timbley, John .444 Monroe 

Timphey, Frank .444 Monroe 

Williams, G. W. & Co.237 Jefferson 

Mr. Williams is one of the best known 
professional horseshoers in the commu¬ 
nity and has a large business and a pay¬ 
ing patronage. 

Woodson, Wm.666 Pontotoc 


Hospitals 


New Phone 1533. 


Visiting Hours: ? 

Tuesdays and Sundays, 12 to 5. ? 

628 Orleans St., Memphis, Tenn. | 


THE HAIRSTON HOSPITAL 
Owned and Controlled by Colored 
People. 


? 
? 
? 
! 

DR. J. C. HAIRSTON, DR. A. N. KITTRELL, 

Surgeon-in-Chief. Secretary. | 

a .a..*.. a .«.. a .. a ..«. 


Hotels 





BLUFF CITY HOTEL. \ 


First Class Service. 

MRS. LAVINA VAIDEN, 
Proprietress. 

172-174 S. Third Street, 
MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. 
































THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


227 


House Movers 


Butts, Henry, Mrs.351 Ayers 


Old Phone, Main 3895. 

I MRS. HENRY BUTTS, | 

House Mover and Raiser. 

? • 

| Satisfaction Guaranteed. 

| 351 Ayers St. Memphis, Tenn. | 

• £ 

Carr, A.585 St. Paul 

Mr. Carr is a native of Memphis and 
has been engaged for thirty years in the 
business of raising and moving houses. 


He is equipped to that extent that 
he is able to carry on satisfactorily five 
different jobs at one time. He is a 
jolly, good-natured, race-loving citizen 
and is widely known as the leading col¬ 
ored man in his business. 




• A. CARR, 

? House Moving and Raising 

i Contractor, 

f ESTIMATES FURNISHED, 
s 585 St. Paul Avenue, 7 

i MEMPHIS, . . . TENN. f 

c|«. a .. a .. a „ a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .^« 


Ice Cream Factories 


Dooley, Wm.390y 2 Beale 

Mr. Dooley has the distinction of be¬ 
ing the only colored man in the com¬ 
munity that is capable and prepared to 


furnish ice cream in large quantities for 
any occasion. His manufacturing plant 
is of large capacity and his products are 
of the best. 


Ice Salesmen 


Norment, Wm.Bohlen-Huse Ice Co. 

Mr. Norment has had twenty-one 
years’ experience in the ice business and 
is a valuable employe of the firm for 
which he has so long and faithfully 
worked. 


Inspectors 


Arnold, John ....G. 0. Triedel Lbr. Co. 
Johnson, Warrick, E. T. Bennett Lbr. Co. 

Jordan, Richard.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Joy, James .Anderson-Tully Co. 

Reed, Henry .Lee Lumber Co. 

Royster, C.E. T. Bennett Lbr. Co. 

Ward, Thos.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Young, Wm.E. T. Bennett Lbr. Co. 

All of the gentlemen in the above ea- 


Pope, Wm.Bohlen-Huse Ice Co. 

Mr. Pope has had long experience in 
ministering to the comfort of his fellow 
Memphians and is a valuable employe. 


of Lumber 

pacity are men of experience and ability 
and by their services have not only re¬ 
flected great credit upon themselves, but 
upon their race. Each one has thor¬ 
oughly mastered the lumber business 
and can be depended upon to look care¬ 
fully and thoroughly after the interests 
he represents. 



















228 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Infirmaries 








DR. C. A. TERRELL, DR. L. G. PATTERSON, 

Surgeon-in-Chief. Asst. Surgeon. 

An Experienced Head Nurse. 

THE TERRELL-PATTERSON 
INFIRMARY, 

All cases needing medical or ment will find this Infirmary the 


159 


surgical treatment placed in our 
care will receive the best atten¬ 
tion. Patients within or without 
the city needing special treat- 
Beale Ave., 


most desirable place in the lower 
Mississippi Valley. Well venti¬ 
lated, Electric Lights and Bells. 

Both Phones 424. 

Memphis, Tenn. 




Insurance 


Banton, C. W.351 Beale 

Braxton, G. C.. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Cowley, C. A.. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Flynn, G. L... . Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

Gary, G., Jr.Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

Gill, F. M.Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

Johnson, C. L..Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

Lee, W. H.Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

McEwen, Geo. W..Life & Casualty Ins. 
Co. 

Owens, R. M. . .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Owens, T. E. .. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Porter, J. W... Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Price, James J. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Smith, Sam. .. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Spencer, J. G.. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Warren, Jno. A..Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 
Woodard, Sidney. .Life & Casualty Ins. 
Co. 

Wright, W. A.. .Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

All of these gentlemen, with one ex¬ 
ception, work for the life & Casualty In¬ 
surance Co., with headquarters at Nash¬ 
ville, Tenn. This company has the larg¬ 
est colored agency of any company doing 


business in the State. Mr. J. W. Porter 
and Mr. James J. Price are assistant 
superintendents of this company. 



Poole, L.Life & Casualty Ins. Co. 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


229 


Janitors of Churches 


Alexander, I. H....Linden St. Christian 

Bowers, Carl .Second Methodist 

Coffey, Mr.Central Baptist 

Mr. Coffey is a member of an unusual 
family. All are ambitious young men 
of sterling character and enjoy public 
confidence and esteem to a great degree. 
Daniels, H. B., Sr.. . Second Presbyterian 

Mr. Daniels is as widely and as fav¬ 
orably known as any citizen of Memphis 
and his constant association with the 
members of the opposite race has done 
much to show to them in a concrete 
way the bright side of the colored peo¬ 
ple of Memphis in more respects than 
one. In many respects Mr. Daniels is 
a man of unusual ability and he is so 
versatile in talents that it is difficult 
to know just what his particular forte 
is. He is an all-round genius and can do 
everything from the making of a pie 
to the construction of a house. He has 
a natural gift for tinkering and con- 
strucing and if he had the proper in¬ 
struments and conveniences he could 
probably repair almost anything. He 
is one of the most thorough race-loving 
men in the world and has striven to do 
even more than his part for the uplift 
of the race. He is a reader and thinker 
and a highly intelligent man. He is a 
marvel of enterprise, get up, energy and 
thrift and by the exercise of these quali¬ 
ties he has become one of the most sub¬ 
stantial and representative citizens of 
Memphis. He has valuable rental prop¬ 
erty that brings him in a handsome in¬ 
come, and with fortune blessing his ef¬ 
forts in the future as it has in the past, 
the day is not far distant when he will 
be one of the wealthiest colored citizens 
of Memphis. 

Mr. Daniels is an ideal citizen and an 
honorable man and believes strictly in 
what is right and in hewing to the 
line, let the chips fall where they may. 


The author has known Mr. Daniels for 
twenty-five years, and is pleased to give 
this faint testimonial of his regard. 
The life of Mr. Daniels in this commun- 
nity is an unsealed book and a model 
for aspiring youth to imitate. He is 
the material out of which the kings of 
the earth are made, for he is a worthy 
man and a bright example of race en¬ 
terprise and race possibility. 

Galloway, John .First Presbyterian 

Mr. Galloway is a steady, reliable, 
honorable man that knows nothing less 
than the faithful performance of his 
duty. He is probably the oldest janitor 
in Memphis in point of continuous 
service. 

Hammon, George.. .St. Mary’s Cathedral 
Harris, Harry. .Court Ave. Presbyterian 
Johnson, Wm.Calvary Episcopal 

It gives the writer another pleasure 
to write a few words of commendation 
concerning Mr. Johnson, whom he has 
had the pleasure of knowing the greater 
part of Mr. Johnson’s life. For ten 
years Mr. Johnson has been the efficient 
and faithful janitor of Calvary Episco¬ 
pal Church, and has performed his du¬ 
ties with that fidelity that is character¬ 
istic of the man. He is efficient in 
whatever he undertakes and we are 
quite sure that as janitor he is one of 
the best in the business. He is a man 
of fine education and has the ability to 
make his mark in anything he might 
attempt. He is a gentleman of high 
ideals and has every attribute of a high- 
class gentleman. 

Morris, Wm.First Baptist 

Mosby, John .First Methodist 

Mr. Mosby is a man that has the in¬ 
telligence to be efficient in every ca¬ 
pacity that he may attempt to fill, and 
it is not surprising that he is one of 
the most efficient janitors connected 
with the churches of Memphis. He is 
a patron of education and has given his 
children advantages. One of his daugh¬ 
ters, Miss Maud, is a teacher in the pub¬ 
lic schools of Memphis and the other 
daughter is the wife of one of the most 
progressive young men of Memphis, Mr. 


Alonzo Locke. 

Smith, Fred .Jewish Synagogue 

Tandy, Porter .Grace Episcopal 

Winfield, Scott ....Miss. Ave. Christian 











230 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Janitors, Miscellaneous 


Hack, Godfrey .Court House 

One of the most intelligent and re¬ 
liable citizens of Memphis is Mr. God¬ 
frey Hack, the efficient and courteous 
assistant janitor of the Shelby County 
Court House. For many years he was 
a successful teacher in Shelby county, 
and did much for the uplift and better¬ 
ment of his people. He is a quiet, mod¬ 
est, unassuming gentleman, with a 
thoughtful turn of mind and at all 
times has given a good account of him¬ 
self in everything that he has attempted. 



A man of unusual fidelity in the per¬ 
formance of his duty and perfectly re¬ 
liable in every application of the term 
is Mr. Wm. Hemingway who has served 


in his present capacity with the Mem¬ 
phis Merchants’ Exchange for twenty 
years. It is probable that no other col¬ 
ored citizen of Memphis is more widely 
and more favorably known by the busi¬ 
ness men of Memphis than Mr. Heming¬ 
way. He is a native of Memphis and 
has always been well known in social 
and business circles. He is steady, 
punctilious and conscientious in the per¬ 
formance of his duties and in this re¬ 
spect no other citizen of Memphis has 
a better record. Many other citizens 
may have more of the world’s goods 
than he, but no other citizen in Mem¬ 
phis has been more faithful to the trust 
reposed in him for so many years than 
Mr. Hemingway. He is prominently 
connected and his people have always 
enjoyed the best social standing. The 
proverbial luck that has persistently fol¬ 
lowed Mr. Hemingway all his life was 
especially in evidence in his selection of 
a partner for life who is one of the 
most refined, talented and accomplished 
young women of Memphis. She is one 
of our best musicians and her services 
are in great demand as a teacher and 
on public occasions. A fine, precocious 
boy is the inspiration and blessing of 
their home. 

Strong, P. 0.Higbee School 

Mr. Strong has a significant name and 
in character and moral worth he exem¬ 
plifies this quality in its strongest ap¬ 
plication. He is a steady, worthy and 
reliable citizen and a promoter of all 
that is good and elevating for the race. 
He is a patron of education and grad¬ 
uated his daughter from the public high 
school of this city. 







THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


231 


Jewelers and Watchmakers 


•••••■•••-•-••.• a - a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. 

J. W. E. REED, 
Watchmaker and Jeweler. 

<4 


Hill, Thos. H.188 Vance Reed, J. W. E.345 Beale 

Johnson, M. L.285 Monroe 

Jones, J. W.87 Exchange f* 

•t.. a .. # .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .s 

t J. W. JONES, t f 

i Jeweler and Watchmaker. ! | 

? * ? • 

l A Specialty of ! f 

i First-class Repairing. ! | 

| * ? i 

j All Work Guaranteed. ; f 

i 87 Exchange Ave., Memphis, Tenn. i ? 

+•-- j 

Nevill, L. C .643 Wilkerson I 

«^**»*»*-*»*-*"*-<*«*«*«*-< a « a ~ a »i>< a « a « a M a .. a .. a ., a » a .. a ,^. : 

| L. C. NEVILL, ? i 

i Jeweler and Watchmaker. I 

f * ! I 

l All Kinds of Repairing. First- | ? 

i class Workmanship. Satisfaction | f 
f Guaranteed. Your Patronage So- ? 
licited. :: :: :: :: ; 

4 -It gives the writer pleasure to recom- 

643 Wilkerson St. T uiend the workmanship of Mr. Reed. 

MEMPHIS, ’ TENN. I charges are reasonable and his work 

is first class. 


Repairing of Watches and Clocks | 
from 50c up. Ear Rings, Finger ? 
Rings, and Jewelry of all kinds. • 
Strictly First-class Service and | 
all work Guaranteed. 

Gillis Hotel Bldg., 345 Beale, I 

Memphis, Tenn. | 

.. an t..i«*..#> a .. a «i.t..i..i..f. a „ a ,. a .,,.. a .. a „ a ,. ( „ a „ l ., a „,,^, 


Junk Dealers 


Day, Alex.Kirk 

Hardy, Henry .285 Monroe 

Mr. Hardy is probably the oldest 
dealer in his line in the city of Mem¬ 
phis. He is universally known as a 
hustling, energetic, thrifty citizen, and 
he is one of our substantial citizens. 

Hill, Jacob .132 S. Fourth 

Turner, Wiley....S. Fourth & Calhoun 

Mr. Turner has rapidly forged to the 
front in the business that he follows. 
He is very enterprising and industrious 


and generally succeeds in everything he 
undertakes. 

Wiley, David .894 S. Third 

Mr. Wiley is a steady and reliable 
young man of business, and will suc¬ 
ceed. 

Williamson, A. L.592 St. Paul 

Mr. Williamson is one of the most 
ambitious men in Memphis. He has ac¬ 
cumulated quite a lot of property in 
Memphis, and has given a splendid ac¬ 
count of his opportunities. He is quite 
a popular fraternity man. 




















232 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Lace and Silk Cleaning 


! L. W. JENKINS & CO. 

Cleaning Establishment. 

Laces and Silks. 

| 164 N. Watkins, Memphis, Tenn. | 


Landscape Gardeners 


Weaver, Pat 


358 Beale White, Reuben 


895 Beale 




i PAT WEAVER, i 

• • 

4 Landscape Gardener. £ 

• i 

4 Grading and Sodding, Excavating £ 

• • 

4 Cellars, Trimming and Resetting | 
4 Shrubbery and Trees. Satisfac- £ 
! tion Guaranteed. o 

? f 

? TILE LAYING. ? 

• • 

• Old Phone: Hemlock 94. i 

| Residence: N. Willett St. | 

£ Office: 358 Beale Ave. £ 

• Phones: Old, 4255-A, New, 624. i 

| Memphis, Tenn. ; 

? • 


REUBEN WHITE, I 

• 

Landscape Gardener. i 

All Work Artistically Done. 4 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. ; 

l 895 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. I 

4 


Mr. White is naturally a high-class 
man, and would not follow a profes¬ 
sion in which he has to play a subordi¬ 
nate part to anyone. He is probably 
the best known man in his line in 
Memphis, and usually has more work 
than he can readily do. He is white in 
principle if not in color, and is one of 
the best and most intelligent citizens 
of Memphis. 


Lathers 


Brown, Chas.... 
Brown, Wm. 
Dodson, J. T. 
Ferguson, Wm. 
Garrison, Joseph 
Johnson, Jack . 
Jones, E. 


.478 Wicks 

R. 480 N. Fourth 

.288 Queen 

.. .418 Wellington 

.765 Edith 

.976 Louisa 

-395 S. Driver 


Jones, Ernest .748 McKinley 

Little, E.560 Wicks 

Marp, Edward .Knight 

McKinney, Mr.325 Queen 

Miller, Samuel .244 Saffarans 

Taylor, Arthur.1071 Kimbrough 

Tombs, Chas.366 S. Humphrey 































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


233 


Lawyers 


Bomar, H. M.159 S. Second Hal, A. J.196 S. Second 

f • 

? Memphis Phone 3128. • 


*£•••• 

& 


i 

i 

i 

+» 


••••■ a " a -- a » a '- a - a - a .> a - a .. a .. ai . a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. s .. a .. l 

New Phone 863. 

H. M. BOMAR, 

Lawyer. 

Practices in all Courts. 

159 S. Second St. Second Floor. 
Memphis, Tenn. 


•'•j. 

f 




Booth, B. F.101 S. Second 

» i < .»..«.. a „ a .. a „ a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ,. s .. a .. a .. a .. a „ a .. a ., s .. a .. a , > ? 4 


A. J. HAL, 

Attorney at Law. 

Practices in all Courts. 
Office: 196 S. Second St. 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 




.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. 




Office: 

f New Phone 
2 1496. 


Residence: | Johnson, Ed., Jr.271 N. Main 

j .»..«..*..».. a ..«..*..».. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..J, 


New Phone 
2581. 


B. F. BOOTH, 

? Lawyer. | 

| 101 S. Second. Memphis, Tenn. | 

^..*»«..».«..«.«..«..«..«..«..i..i..«..,..i..«..«..«.. a .. a .. a „ s ..«» aM |. 

Bradford, T. W.196 N. Main 

• • 

• Practices in all Courts. • 

New Phone 2276 t 

| T. W. BRADFORD, | 

• Attorney at Law • 

| Office: 196 N. Main St. | 

i Residence. 742 Alabama St. | 

Memphis, Tenn. f 


{ Memphis Phone 3270. j 

| EDWARD JOHNSON, JR., f 


t 


Attorney at Law. 


? Practices in all Courts. • 

| Second floor, 271 N. Main St. | 

• Memphis, : : : Tenn. | 

Johnson, T. H.159 Beale 

• Residence: 613 Georgia Ave. ! 

f Phones: Office 2376; Residence ? 

99.fi t 


226. 

T. H. JOHNSON, 
Lawyer. 

159 Beale Avenue, 


& 

? 


Carter, S. S.206 N. Main 

• • 

f Practices in all Courts. Divorce f 
J and Criminal Cases a Specialty. | 
• Old Phone 304; New Phone 2920. • 

f S. S. CARTER, j 

2 Attorney at Law. | 

f Office: 206 N. Main. i 

2 Residence: 1093 Florida St., 2 
2 Memphis, : : : Tenn. 2 

Fleming, M. D.271 N. Main 

| M. D. FLEMING, ! 

f Lawyer. 

2 271 N. Main St., | 

I Memphis, : : : Tenn. • 


| Notary Public. Memphis, Tenn. i 

.p.a-a"a><a-a><a»a»a»a"a-a-a"a»a-a-a-a-a»a-a.<a.*a.*a»a.^* 

Reynolds, George W.159 S. Second 

• • 

• Memphis Phone. j 


? GEO. W. REYNOLDS, 

I Attorney at Law and 


a 

l 

f 

f • 

1 Solicitor in Chancery. • 

| 2 

2 Second floor, 159 S. Second St., | 

i Memphis, Tenn. | 













234 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Saddler, Henry R.198 N. Main 

• i 

i i 

4 • 

f Phones: Office 2276; Residence ? 

| 1575. I 

i i 

HENRY R. SADDLER, 

! ! 

• Lawyer. • 

I i 

| Real Estate Conveyancer and ? 

| Notary Public. \ 

• • 

1 Office, 198 N. Main St., I 

• • 

f Residence, 684 Phelan St. f 


Memphis, 


Tenn. • 


Settle, J. T.184 N. Main 

• • 

f Memphis Telephones: Office 2131; f 

• Residence 2390. J 

i J. T. SETTLE, i 

f Attorney at Law. f 

| Attorney for Solvent Savings Bank = 
? and Trust Company. i 

| Office, 184 N. Main St., ? 

| Residence, 421 S. Orleans St., I 

• Memphis, : : : Tenn. • 

• • 

SLEDGE, D. D.159 S. Second 

f 

* 

t 


Phones. 716 New; 717 Old. 
D. D. SLEDGE, 
Attorney at Law. 
Practices in all Courts. 
Office, 159 S. Second St. 
Residence 1060 Kimbrough St. 
Memphis, Tenn. 






Loans 


Bryant, J. L.358 Beale 

Mr. Bryant is now actively engaged 
in the real estate business in which he 
is very successful. By experience and 
training he is one of the most expert 
landscape gardeners in the business; 
but he has retired from active work 
in this line and is now wholly engaged 
in real estate and financial operations. 


Randall, Peter.299 Jefferson 

Mr. Randall ought to be in Wall 
street breaking financial lances with 
Pierpont Morgan and others instead of 
operating in Memphis; but Mr. Randall 
is a very successful man and can pros¬ 
per anywhere. He is connected with 
the undertaking firm of Carson, Bar¬ 
nett & Co. 

Walker, M. P.358 Beale 

Willis, J. B.358 Beale 


Magistrates 


Earthman, E. S.Benjestown 

Mr. Earthman literally owns the 
earth so far as a colored magistracy in 
Shelby County is concerned. He is the 
only colored representative in the Coun¬ 
ty Court. 
















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


235 


Mantel and 


Boyle, Albert... .Niemeyer Mantel Co. 

Boyle, Oscar.Neimeyer Mantel Co. 

Broffit, John .Niemeyer Mantel Co. 

Davis, Robert... .Northcross Mantel Co. 

Drew, John.Northcross Mantel Co. 


Tile Setters 


Dunn, Jerry-Northcross Mantel Co. 

Green, Robert.435 Beale 

Hunt, Julius.828 Minnesota 

Hunt, Reuben-Northcross Mantel Co. 

Saddler, Tim... .Northcross Mantel Co. 


Marble Workers 


HILL & COMPANY, 

| Dealers in All Kinds of Monu- ! 

mental Works. • 

Headstones from $6.00. I 

| Works, Zion Cemetery. ? 

| New Phone 3033. 

S. J. Hill, Proprietor. 

| Office, Zion Hall, 435 Beale Ave., \ 
| Memphis, Tenn. • 


Hill, S. J.435 Beale 

Mr. Hill is a man of exceptional abil¬ 
ity in his line, which represents the 
highest type of mechanical skill. He 
represents art in its highest significance. 
He served a long apprenticeship in his 
business and is one of the most com¬ 
petent workmen in the business. He is 
an exceptional man and is engaged in an 
exceptional business. 


Mattress Workers 


Brewer, Matthew. .Memphis Mattress 
Factory. 

Brooks, Henry. .Rose’s Mattress Factory 
Buchanan, Joseph..Rose’s Matt jess Fac¬ 
tory. 

Carter, Clarence. .Rose’s Mattress Fac¬ 
tory 

Douglass, Corry. .Rose’s Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

Ford, George.. Rose’s Mattress Factory 

Hill, Wm.Rose’s Mattress Factory 

Hopkins, Garnett.. Rose’s Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

Mr. Hopkins is a master in his busi¬ 
ness. He is an experienced workman 
and can deliver the goods in more than 
one respect. 


Houghley, John. .Rose’s Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

Isabel, Thomas.926 Union 

Jones, David.. Memphis Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

Keelly, Henry. .Rose’s Mattress Factory 
Larry, Maurice.. Rose’s Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

Mr. Larry is a high-class artisan in 
his business and is probably the most 
skillful of his class in Memphis. 

McClaren, Shelby.Sixth 

Moore, John. . .Rose’s Mattress Factory 
Repetoe, Willis H.. Memphis Mattress 
Factory. 

Roman, Jacob.705 S. Fourth 

Wilson, George, Rose’s Mattress Factory 
Yancey, David. .Memphis Mattress Fac¬ 
tory. 

















236 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Milliners 


Binyard, Hannah M., Miss.N. Y. High, Pearl, Miss.Unknown 

Gray, Pearl, Miss.882 Galloway Thomas, Ella D., Miss-624 St. Paul 

Thomas, Nettie V., Miss. .624 St. Paul 


Millwrights 


Crawford, Warren G.810 S. Main 

Daniels, George. ..G. 0. Friedel Lbr Co. 

Mr. Daniels is a man of 30 years’ ex¬ 
perience in the business of a millwright 
and is a mechanical genius of the high¬ 


est qualification. He is an authority 
in his line. 

Davis, Wm.Southern Oil Co. 

Ford, George.R. 221 Commerce 

Theede, August.Patton 


Music Teachers 


Campbell, Lucy, Miss.388 Pontotoc 

Miss Campbell is a very talented and 
useful young woman. She is a musi¬ 
cian of ability and can give a creditable 
account of herself either as performer 
or teacher. 

Davis, Lena, Mrs.672 Washington 

Mrs. Davis is one of our best pianists 
and teachers. She is a graduate of the 
Hooks Conservatory of Music and is 
well qualified to give instruction in this 
art. 

Davis, Susie, Mrs.609 E. Georgia 

Mrs. Davis is an accomplished musi¬ 
cian and a very successful teacher. For 
several years she has conducted with 
great success classes in music, and has 
merited tfie patronage of the music-lov¬ 
ing public. Before her marriage she was 
instructor of music at LeMoyne. 

Hall, Mary E., Miss.952 McDowell 

Miss Hall is a musician of experience 
and one of the best exponents of the 
art of music. She is a successful music 
teacher and one of the most serviceable 
in the community. 


Handy, W. C., Prof.246 Ayers 

Prof. Handy is one of the most ex¬ 
perienced musicians in the. whole coun¬ 
try. He is a teacher of both vocal and 
instrumental music. He is a professor 
of band and orchestra music. For sev¬ 
eral years he had charge of the music 
department of the State Normal School 
at Normal, Ala., and his work was emi¬ 
nently satisfactory. 

Hemingway, Lula, Mrs. ... 585 E. Iowa 

Mrs. Hemingway has conducted classes 
in music for several years. She is an 
accomplished musician and a successful 
teacher. 

Hooks, Julia, Mrs.578 Lauderdale 

Mrs. Hooks is the founder of the 
Hooks Conservatory of Music, and is 
one of the oldest and most experienced 
teachers in the country. She is at the 
head of her profession both as teacher 
and accompanist, and has been an in¬ 
spiration for lovers of the divine art 
for many years. 



















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


237 


Huff, Hattie, Miss.458 Dunlap 

Miss Huff is not of German extrac¬ 
tion, but she is a first-class musician 
notwithstanding. She has the art both 
in head and hand. 

Jones, Emma B., Mrs.866 Alma 

Mrs. Jones is one of the brightest 
and most skillful musicians in Memphis. 
She has had long and successful experi¬ 
ence in every musical capacity and re¬ 
flects great credit upon the people of 
Memphis. 

Larry, Susie, Mrs.583 S. Dudley 

Mrs. Larry from a mere girl has 
been prominently connected with music 
and ranks with the best performers and 
teachers in the profession. 

Lewis, John, Mrs.410 S. Driver 

Mrs. Lewis is an organist of experi¬ 
ence and a music teacher of ability. 
For several years she has been the or¬ 
ganist of Collins’ Chapel, and has served 
with great credit. 

Mosby, Maud, Miss.340 N. Dunlap 

Miss Mosby is a graduate of Kor- 
trecht High School and a music teacher 
of considerable skill. She has taken a 
post graduate work in a Chicago con¬ 
servatory of music. 

Robinson, Beatrice.919 Monroe 

Miss Robinson is a talented vocalist 
of experience and a musician of ability. 
As a music teacher she has had long 
and successful experience. 


Scott, Mabel D., Miss.. 1096 Kimbrough 

Miss Scott is a young musician of 
great promise. She is head of the de¬ 
partment of music of Howe Institute 
and is the youngest musician that ever 
held such a responsible position. She 
is an excellent young woman and a 
credit to her people. 

Smith, J. J., Prof.2 Park Place 

Prof. Smith is an experienced and 
successful teacher of band and orchestra 
music. He is a man of real musical 
ability and stands in the front rank in 
his profession. 

Williams, Geo. J., Prof.349 Beale 

Prof. Williams is one of our best 
known and ablest musicians. He is a 
splendid teacher and was the first in¬ 
structor of the original Kortrecht High 
School Band of Memphis. He has 
trained with great success bands in va¬ 
rious parts of the country. His ability 
in his line is unquestionable. 

Woodruff, Anna, Miss.699 Linden 

Miss Woodruff is the daughter of 
Mr. D. C. Woodruff and a very promis¬ 
ing young woman in the profession of 
music. 

Woodson, Minnie, Miss. .. .666 Pontotoc 

Miss Woodson is one of our brightest 
and most promising young musicians. 
She has taken special work in music in 
the North, and is well qualified in her 
business. 


Newspapers 


Bluff City News.431 Beale 

Mr. Chambers is a native of the 
great state of Mississippi and is the 
most successful colored editor that has 
been connected with the field of journal¬ 
ism in Memphis for the past two de¬ 


cades. He is a forceful writer and uses 
a trenchant pen. He knows the news¬ 
paper business from center to circum¬ 
ference and has gained in it distinction. 
He has been the leader in many move¬ 
ments affecting our race along the line 
of intellectual, social, and moral im- 














238 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


provement, and can be depended upon 
not to falter when a question of doubt¬ 
ful morality is involved. As Mr. Cham¬ 
bers has grown in prosperity he has in¬ 
creased physically, until his physique 
has assumed commanding proportions. 
He is a genial, affable gentleman with 
an infectious laugh that indicates the 
pleasantness of his nature. He is so 
interested in the welfare of his race 
that he is constantly making inquiries 
as to what means or methods should 
be resofted to in order to promote its 
progress. So constantly does he make 
inquiries that he may properly be called 
the Human Interrogation Point. He is 
a fine man. 

f A Great National Newspaper, • 
THE BLUFF CITY NEWS, f 
| Strongest Race Journal. ! 

• Largest Local Circulation, \ 

l ' Published Weekly f 

| By the News Publishing Co., | 

| King I. Chambers, Editor. j 

Head and Hand.LeMoyne Inst. 

This worthy little journal is a product 
of the printing department of LeMoyne 
Institute and gives articles of interest 
pertaining to the work of the school, the 
experience of the graduates and informa¬ 
tion of a general character. 

Memphis Baptist Herald... .553 Leath 

This journal is edited by Rev. B. R. 
Bell, and is the official medium for the 


exposition of Baptist principles. It 
has a large circulation, both in Mem¬ 
phis and in the state of Mississippi, 
and no doubt accomplishes great good. 

Semi-Weekly Progress. 

! THE MID-WEEKLY PROGRESS ! 

? A wide-awake newspaper of so- ? 

| cial, industrial and commercial T 

• advancement. Stands for the ? 

f highest moral and intellectual ? 
I advancement of the race. ’ l 

• Edited and published by 

James E. Washington, 

| Home office: 1179 E. Trigg. J 
'• i 

Mr. Washington is a native of the 
state of Mississippi and is a young man 
of indomitable pluck and energy. He 
is a bright and enterprising newspaper 
man and with his extraordinary push 
he will undoubtedly forge to the front 
of newspaperdom. He is a man of 
versatile ability and a general hustler 
that leaves no stone unturned which 
hinders his progress. A man with his 
grit and energy is bound not only to 
make his mark in his chosen profes¬ 
sion, but to make his millions. 

Signal .Howe Institute 

This bright and newsy paper is the 
product of the printing department of 
Howe Institute, and is under the aus¬ 
pices of the Baptist denomination of 
West Tennessee. It is ably edited by 
Dr. Fuller and is a credit to the de¬ 
nomination. 


Notaries Public 

, 


Booth, B. F... 
Johnson, T. H, 


101 S. Second Saddler, H. R 
....159 Beale Settle, J. T.. 


198 N. Main 
184 N. Main 











'siiHi'iaw iio aais moraa am 


239 


Orchestras 


BYNUM’S ! 

SUPERB ORCHESTRA. 

! Music Furnished for All Occasions 

| Headquarters, 349 Beale Ave. 

• Memphis Phone 2549. 

i Memphis, 


no jl jLiunu aottv* • 

: : : Tenn. | 


Chas. Pierce, first violin. 
Frank McDonald, cornet. 
Arthur Dorsey, clarinet. 

Geo. J. Williams, trombone. 
John H. Hare, bass violin. 
H. J. Bowman, traps. 

Chas. Bynum, guitar. 




.. 

ECKFORD & HIGGINS’ | 


IMPERIAL ORCHESTRA, 

R. H. Eckford, Leader. 

Music Furnished for all Occasions. 
Headquarters, 348 Beale Ave., 
Memphis Phone 3290. 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 




R. H. Eckford, first violin. 

J. J. Smith, cornet. 

Guy Williams, cornet. 

Wm. Adams, clarinet. 

J. H. Pratt, flute. 

T. J. Williams, trombone. 
Walter Fowlkes, bass violin. 
Leonard Scott, traps. 


j HANDY’S BAND & ORCHESTRA 

f (Thirty-five Musicians.) 

W. C. HANDY, Leader. 

! Music Furnished for all Occasions 
i Headquarters, 246 Ayers, 

? Memphis Phone 2703. 

I Cumb. Phone 2830. 

I Memphis, : : : Tenn. 

W. C. Handy, conductor. 

James Turner, first violin. 

Oscar Bryant, second violin. 

Paul Wyer, second violin. 

Edward A. Sneed, second clarinet. 
Calvin Goodman, second clarinet. 

Robert Young, clarinet. 

M. Thornton, cornet. 

John Lewis, cornet. 

James H. Pratt, flute. 

Edward Winters, guitar. 

Albert Fredericks, trombone. 

R. L. Bowles, trombone. 

Will Stuart, bass. 

Archie Walls, bass. 

Samuel Baker, drums. 

LOVE’S MAIL CARRIERS ORCHES¬ 
TRA. 

Headquarters, 718 Beale Ave. 

J. R. Love, first violin. 

Samuel Woods, second violin. 

Edward A. Sneed, clarinet. 

Booker Williamson, first cornet. 

Frank Morton, second cornet. 

Mrs. J. R. Love, flute. 

Robert C. Bowles, trombone. 

Clarence Simon, piano. 

Samuel H. Baker, traps. 



Organ Repairer and Builder 


Farrow, W. C.288 N. Pauline 

Mr. Farrow is a native of the great 
state of Dakota. For 25 years he has 
been a valuable employe of the E. Witz- 
mann & Co. music house—the oldest 
and most reputable house in Memphis. 
He is a tuner, repairer and finisher, and 
there is no department of musical work 
with which he is not acquainted. This 
music house has such a great reputa¬ 


tion in the repairing, tuning and build¬ 
ing of instruments that representatives 
of this house are kept busy on the road 
doing its work, and one of the most 
skillful workmen connected with this 
house is Mr. W. C. Farrow, who is 
away from the city for a great part of 
his time attending to the company’s 
contracts. He is a polished, high-class 
gentleman and honors the position he 
so ably fills. 






240 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Owners of Moving Vans 


Adear, D. G.Nichols Jackson, Robert.693 Marshall 




i 

I 

4 


Memphis Phone: Cumb. Phone: 
-. 1504A 

ADEAR, 

PUBLIC MOVING VAN. 

Pianos and Furniture Moved 
With Care. 

Stand, Third and Monroe. 
Residence, Nichols St. 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


I 
? 


Copeland, J. C.486 Alston 




MOVING VAN 
AND EXPRESS. 

Stand, Beale and Hernando Sts. 
Pianos and Furniture 

Moved With Care. 
Special attention to packing and 
Shipping. 

J. C. COPELAND, 

Memphis Phone. Old Phone, 
545. 456. 

Memphis, Tenn. 


•v 

? 

• 

i 

i 








Davis, Wm.288 Front 




« 

Pianos & Furniture Moved With 4 
Care. Packing and Shipping. ? 

Public Car, i 

WILL DAVIS. ? 

Stand, Second St. and Adams Av. ? 
Old Phone 3156Y. . • 

Residence, 288 N. Front St. t 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. ; 

• • 








ROBERT JACKSON, 
MOVING VAN. 

We move your goods in the sun¬ 
shine or rain with perfect care 
and satisfaction. First-class 
Cabinet Shop in Connection. 
Packing and shipping a spe¬ 
cialty. Carpets cleaned and laid. 
Work done on short notice. Bag¬ 
gage and general haulting. 
Phones: New 603; Old 3459. 
693 Marshall Ave., 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


Jones, Nick.856 Olympic 


MOVING VAN. 

Pianos and Furniture Carefully 
Moved. 

First-class Service. 

Stand, Adams and Second. 
Call NICK JONES. 

Old Phone 3156. 
Residence, 856 Olympic, 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


4 


Livingston, W. T. .34 W. Jackson Mound 




New Phone, Old Phone, 

301. 1504. 

W. T. LIVINGSTON, 

Professional 

Piano and Furniture Mover. 
Stand, Monroe and Third, 
Residence, 30 W. Gholston St. 
Memphis, Tenn. 


i 
i 
| 
4 


Holloway, G. S.636 Wicks Powers, Edward.1168 Florida 






G. S. HOLLOWAY 
TRANSFER CO. 

Moving, Packing and Freight 
Hauling. Work promptly attend¬ 
ed to. 

Memphis Phone, Cumb. -. 

Residence, 636 Wicks Ave., 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


t 

i 

: 

• 

I 
4 


Memphis Phone 301. 
Residence, Cumb. Phone 4968. 
ED. POWERS, 

Public Moving Van. 

Pianos and Furniture Moved 
With Care. 

Stand, Third and Monroe, 
Residence, 1168 Florida St., 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


4 

4 

• 

4 

4 

I 

t 

i 

4 

4 













THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


241 


Ramsey, Henry J.1358 Kentucky 

f Residence, Stand, • 

f Old Phone 4366. Old Phone 1564. f 
i HENRY J. RAMSEY, i 

Piano and Furniture Mover.' f 
I I make a specialty of packing | 
4 and shipping pianos and furni- • 

| ture. • 

i Residence, 1358 Kentucky Ave., I 

• corner Love. • 

| Stand, Third and Monroe, 2 

1 Memphis, : : : Tenn. i 

Snyder, Edward.McGhee 

• i 

4 Stand, Third and Monroe. • 

2 Pianos and Furniture moved ? 

1 with care. | 

4 Baggage and General Hauling. 4 

2 Packing and Freight Hauling. ? 

I —Call for— | 

EDWARD SNYDER, 

1 McGhee St., J 

| Memphis, : : : Tenn. | 

Walton, Wm.336 Calhoun 

New Phone 2035. ! 

Moving Van, f 

REV. WM. WALTON, ; 

Furniture 4 

Packed, Moved and Shipped ? 

| With Care. | 

4 Stand, Monroe and Third, • 

f Residence, 336 Calhoun Ave. ? 

• Memphis, Tenn. j 

...............•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•.4. 


WATSON, A. R.921 Davie 

t ! 

f A. R. WATSON’S MOVING VAN, 4 

l ! 

• Practical i 

t i 

J Piano and Furniture Mover. f 

l Wagons furnisher for picnic 2 

4 i 

Parties. | 

f Stand, -— 

| Residence, 921 Davie Ave. ? 

• • 

• Cumberland Phone - i 

t ? 

New Phone 2956. • 

• • 

! Memphis, : : : Tenn. I 

1 i 

Williams, Matt.188 California 

a> . a .. j. 

4 New Phone 301. 4 

1 • I 

2 MOVING VAN, 2 

• • 

• Pianos and Furniture • 

• • 

? Moved with Care. ? 

2 T 

I MATT WILLIAMS, | 

• • 

4 Stand, Third and Monroe, 4 

• • 

Residence, 188 California Ave. 

t ’ j 

i Memphis, Tenn. i 

4 4 

»p. s .. a .. s ^ a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. s .. a .. s .. a .. a .. a .»?« 


Packers 


Washington, Wm.634 Orleans 

Mr. Washington is an expert packer 
of furniture for shipment. He has had 
long experience in the work and can 
give perfect satisfaction. 

Williamson, W.Third and Monroe 

New Phone 301; Old Phone 1504A. 




















242 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Painters and Decorators 


Armour, Jack.595 St. John 

Bailey, L. B.941 Porter Ext. 

a..*.. 

! L. B. BAILEY, 

Painter and Decorator, f 

1 Estimates furnished. All work i 

f guaranteed. f 

? 941 Porter Ext. | 

i Memphis, : : : Tenn. j 

Mr. Bailey is an artist in his profes¬ 
sion and ranks with the best in the city. 
He has * long experience and ability of 
the highest order, and there is enough 
of the element of conscience in him to 
make him put forth his best efforts in 
every job he has. 


Brooks, James. . 
Brown, Aaron. . 
Brown, John W 
Bugg, James... 
Burnett, Harry. 


.625 Union 

.. . R. 902 Latham 

.658 Beale 

.... 189 Commerce 
Breedlove & White 






• Old Phone 4047. • 

! H. H. BURNETT CO., | 

? Painters and Paper Hangers. ? 

| Fresco painting, kalsomining, all f 

• kinds of high-class decorating, i 

Work Promptly Attended. f 

• Breedlove and White, T 

• Memphis, : : : Tenn. i 

? i 


The writer takes great pleasure in 
certifying to the fine ability of Mr. 
Burnett in his profession. He is one of 
the leading painters and decorators in 
the community, and is the peer of any 
workmen in the same line of business. 
There is no class of work beyond his 
ability. When others fail call on him 
for satisfaction. The writer had to 
do so, and was pleased beyond expres¬ 
sion with the character of his work. 
He is master of his profession and a 
high-toned, accomplished gentleman. 


Claiborne, G. C.Volentine & Alaska 

The author cheerfully testifies to the 
ability of Mr. Claiborne in his line of 
work. The fact that he is associated 
with such a master workman as Mr. 
Burnett is sufficient evidence that he 
is a first-class artisan. 

Clifford, H. L. Leath 

Donaldson, Calbel.Bell Buggy Co. 

Eason, Spencer.R. 875 Webb 

Edwards, Samuel.786 Walnut 

Ferguson, Wm.R. 499 N. Third 

Gillespie, Samuel.321V2 Beale 

Gudger, R. H.660 Court 

Harbert, Reuben.96 Wellington 

Hardie, Wm. C.712 Beale 

Hendricks, John. .. .591 Humphrey, Ext. 
Hendricks, Jordan..591 Humphrey Ext. 

Mr. Hendricks is what may be called 
a good, old-time painter, who paints ac¬ 
cording to contract and with an eye 
single to his fine reputation as a work¬ 
man. He paints for results as well as 
for money, and the person employing 
him will get full value received. He 
uses good paint and not bad dope. He 
is a thoroughly reliable man and his 
work is his best recommendation. 


Hill, Chas.680 S. Somerville 

House, Wm.Larose 

Jackson, Thomas.R. 1341 Larkin 

Johnson, A. J..711 Moore 

Johnson, Wilbert.709 Polk 

Jones, Boyd.582 Mill 

Jones, Ed.Butler and S. Second 

Lyons, Albert.R. 688 S. Wellington 

Malone, Thos.357y 2 N. Dunlap 

Morton, John H.146 N. Huppert 

Nelms, George. .James & Graham Wag¬ 
on Co. 

Newbern, Hugh. Crematory 

Paschall, Wm.671 Walker 

Pleasant, James.R. 443 Monroe 

Pleasant, Louis.497 N. Dunlap 


































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


243 


Powell, John.201 Winchester 

Ryan, Wm.742 Court 

Sampson, W. T.High and Poplar 

Seal, Henry.R. 198 Jackson 

Simmons, Chas.206 Jackson 

Smith, Benjamin.627 Miller 

Smith, Joe.Lane and Ayres 

Spann, E.363 Gayoso 

Thomas, Henry .Waterworks 

Thomas, Wm.594 St. Paul 

Turner, J. T.252 N. Second 

| TURNER I 


The Decorator, Painter and Pa¬ 
per Hanger. 

All Work Guaranteed. 

Office, 252 N. Second St. 
Both Phones 1514. 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 


Walker, M. P.358 Beale 

Walker, Wm.140 S. Fourth 

West, Chas., Jr.790 Ida 

I 
; 
i 


CHAS. W. WEST, 
PAINTER AND DECORATOR. 

New Phone 3121. 
Estimates Furnished and 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. 
Residence, 790 Ida Ave. 


I 

i 

J 

West, Chas., Sr.582 Chapin 

Mr. West is one of the best and most 
experienced men in the painting busi¬ 


ness. In fact he is an authority in it. 
For years he was the leading colored 
painter of Memphis, and is still the 
same in knowledge and ability. He is 
a man of fine native ability and is 
highly intellectual, and to judge him 
by his courtly manners and elegant dic¬ 
tion, one would suppose him to be a 
retired college professor instead of a 
knight of the brush. 


West, Geo. W.594 St. Paul 

I GEO. W. WEST, 

House Painting, | 

Paper Hanging and ? 

Polishing Floors, i 

Estimates kindly given. f 

Cumberland Phone 4216. ? 

594 St. Paul Ave. I 

t * 


Mr. George West is one of the leading 
young painters of Memphis. He is com¬ 
paratively young in age, but old in ex¬ 
perience. He does a very extensive busi¬ 
ness and is known far and wide as one 
that is able to measure up to every re¬ 
quirement of his profession. He has a 
splendid rating in the financial world, 
and has had the foresight to look out 
for the rainy day. 

Withers, George.709 Polk 

Wright, Ben.704 S. Orleans 

Wright, William.146 Decatur 

Young, Miles D.15 Carolina 




























244 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Parks 


Church’s .391 Beale Ave. 

* # 

* 


—Go To— 

: CHURCH’S PARK : : 


For 


Pleasure and Amusement. 

Sweet Music. 

Beautiful lawns, seats and 
swings. The finest negro audito¬ 
rium in the country with fine ar¬ 
tistic curtains and draperies. Box 
seat arrangement. Electric foot 
lights. Well heated in winter. In 
summer fans and soda water to 
keep one cool. 

Memphis Phone 865. 


Dixie .Florida 

Fay Avenue.S. Memphis 

Klondyke.N. E. Memphis 

PICNIC TIME. 

? Go to Klondyke Park—Johnson ? 

• avenue car line. This park is an j 
I attractive place throughout the f 
f entire season. Brilliant gas and ? 

• electric lights. Fine pavilion and i 

I grand stand. Baseball diamond. ? 
i Terms Reasonable Day & Night, 
f HENRY GAINES, President. 

! LEVI S. ORR Secretary & Mgr. 
i 300 Ashland Place. 




Piermen—Sand Hogs 


Campbell, John. .. .Missouri Bridge Co. 

Height, J. T.Missouri Bridge Co. 

Hunt, Eli.Missouri Bridge Co. 

Hunt, Will.Missouri Bridge Co. 

Jefferson, Chas.Missouri Bridge Co. 

Lavender, John. ... Missouri Bridge Co. 

Lee, Richard.Missouri Bridge Co. 

Thompson, Jeff... .Missouri Bridge Co. 

Trice, Jacob.Missouri Bridge Co. 

For information to the reading public 
the writer desires to say that the men 
named above as Piermen-Sand Hogs are 
men that build the piers for bridges 


over our deepest rivers. They are called 
sand hogs because in their work they 
often dig down a hundred feet or more 
in the sand below the bed of the river. 
This work is very hazardous and in or¬ 
der to succeed in it each workman must 
have plenty of sand in his craw, fig¬ 
uratively speaking. All these men live 
in Memphis, but in pursuing their la¬ 
bors they are called to all parts of the 
United States, and even to foreign coun¬ 
tries. At this time, which is the 
month of October, 1908, they are proba¬ 
bly in Mexico. 


Pharmacists 


Beecham, E. F. C.Union Drug Co. 

Mr. Beecham is a highly polished and 
capable gentleman from the North, and 
is a great acquisition to Memphis in 
more respects than one. He seems to 
have at his command the knowledge of 
every detail of the drug business and 
under his able supervision the Union 
Drug Co. has been successful from its 
beginning. 

Jackson, Flossie, Miss. .New Era Phar¬ 
macy. 

Jackson, George R. .New Era Pharmacy 


Jenkins, Natalie, Miss..North Memphis 
Drug Co. 

Miss Jenkins is a graduate of Kor- 
trecht High School. Soon she will re¬ 
ceive her diploma from the Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Department of Meharry Medical 
College. She is a talented young woman 
and a worthy representative of an ex¬ 
cellent family. 

Wallace, W. A... .N. Memphis Drug Co. 

This well-known drug company is to 
be congratulated for succeeding in get¬ 
ting the services of one of the most 
skilled pharmacists in Memphis. 

















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


245 


Photographers 


Hooks, Henry.578 S. Lauderdale 

Mr. Hooks is one of the most artistic 
and finished photographers in Memphis. 
His work is the highest product of the 
photographer’s art, and has won for 
him distinction and praise wherever he 
has engaged in the work. 

Newton, James P.134 S. Main 

Mr. Newton is our oldest and most 
experienced local photographer. His 
ability in his profession is of the high¬ 
est, and his work of the most finished 
character. His reputation is not lim¬ 
ited to the confines of Memphis, but ex¬ 
tends over the whole country. He is 
master of his art and one of the most 
skillful men that ever manipulated a 
camera. He has large property inter¬ 
ests in Chicago and is a bright example 
of American push and energy. 



JAMES P. NEWTON 


Plasterers 


Alexander, John.549 1 / 2 Mississippi 

Allen, Turner C.369 S. Hampton 

Barnes, Elijah.R. Banner Laundry 

Barnes, Peter.1161 Carr 

Brown & Nesbit.629 Polk 

The firm of Brown & Nesbit is one 
of the leading contracting firms in the 
business of plastering. They are ex¬ 
perienced and capable artisans and en¬ 
joy a liberal patronage. They know 
their business and conscientiously per¬ 
form their work. They are merchants 
as well as contractors, and have one 
of the neatest and most up-to-date stores 
in Memphis. 

Bruster, Edward..R. 673 S. Wellington 
Butler, John.293 Washington 

One of the most experienced and skill¬ 
ful plasterers in Memphis is Mr. Butler. 
His reputation in his business is second 
to none. 

Caldwell, Benjamin. 66iy 2 Beale 

Evans, Arthur.615 S. Fourth 


Fields, Adam.749 Concord 

Foster, James.171 E. R. R. 

Glover, Andrew.,.392 Ayers 

Mr. Glover is a plasterer’s attendant 
and is as fine a man as ever accidentally 
got lime in his eyes. His two daughters 
are graduates of LeMoyne Institute and 
Kortrecht High School respectively, and 
each one is striving to find a way or 
make one. 

Green, Gentry P.E. Cherry 

Mr. Green is one of the pioneers in 
the plastering business in Memphis and 
is an authority in the same. As a fin¬ 
ished workman in his line no other cit¬ 
izen stands higher. He is a patron of 
education and has graduated two of his 
daughters in the public high school. In 
his work his motto is “Well done or 
not at all.” 

Holliday, H.248 N. Main 

Hoskins, Henry C.673 N. Second 

Hudson, Edward .943 N. Annie 





































246 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Jackson, Harron. .. . 1321 E. Runnimede 

Jackson, Lem.943 Madison 

Johnson, Chas.R. 251 N. Dunlap 

Johnson, Allie.961 Lenow 

Jones, Henry.R. 210 N. Dunlap 

Kibble, George.403 Leath 

Matthews, George.... 103 S. Lauderdale 

McCracken, Wm.661 Phelan 

McDonald, Stephen. .. .R. 317 St. Paul 

Moore, Wm. H.609 S. Humphrey 

Newell, Washington.247 N. Dunlap 

Pope, Jerry.378 Winchester 

Pope, Walter.223 N. Dunlap 

Mr. Pope has a splendid reputation in 
the plastering business. He is a highly 
intelligent young man and has the abil¬ 
ity to succeed in anything that he may 
attempt. He is a graduate of LeMoyne 
School and a worthy representative of 
the race. 

Price, John.R. 404 S. Wellington 

Raynor, Joseph.908 N. Bellevue 

Reeves, H. K.390 S. Humphrey 

Reid, James.487 Williams 


Rice, Daniel A.784 Williams 

Sanders, Milton.340 Cambridge 

Samuels, Theodore.612 Polk 

Saunders, John M.340 Cambridge 

Settle, H. M.371 Calhoun 

As an artisan in his line Mr. Settle is 
highly efficient. He is an experienced 
man and when he finishes a job it is 
settled with satisfaction. 

Singleton, R. D.White 

Mr. Singleton has a first-class record 
as a workman and contractor in the 
plastering business. He is a progres¬ 
sive citizen and believes in doing his 
best in every capacity. 

Slaughter, Elijah.612 Polk 

Slayden, Chas.665 Autumn 

Spratt, Chas.106 S. Lauderdale 

Taylor, Fred.423 S. Lauderdale 

Taylor, George.719 Simmons 

Tucker, Anderson.365 Ashland 

Warner, Howard.R. 118 Exchange 

Wiggins, Jackson.R. 640 Suzette 


Plumbers 


Alston, Thomas .855 Lane 

f New Phone 2291; Old Phone 4448 ? 

| THOMAS ALSTON, | 

• Plumber. • 

: Plumbing and Gas Fitting. ? 

• Prompt and efficient service. | 

| Bring him your troubles. f 
| 855 Lane Ave., Memphis, Tenn. T 

Armour, Porter.480 Peyton 

Ball, Isaiah. 744 Como 




PRACTICAL PLUMBING 

-) and (- 

GAS FITTING, 
Repairing of all kinds. 
Best of Work. 

Call for 

ISAIAH BALL, 

744 Como St., Memphis, Tenn. 


Booker, Wm.1290 Johnson 


WILLIAM BOOKER, 
Practical Plumber. 
Repairing of all kinds promptly 
attended to. 

Your work solicited. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed 
New Phone 2372. 

1290 Johnson Ave. 


Butler, James.351 Beale 

The writer takes pleasure in certify¬ 
ing to the ability of Mr. Butler in his 
line. He attended an industrial school 
and gained the technical knowledge that 
has enabled him to succeed so well in 
his profession. 


%. a ..«..*..».. # ..«.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a . >a .. a ,.g 4 Clark, John.403 S. Humphrey 









































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


247 


Dooley, Ellis.578 Wellington 

ELLIS DOOLEY, | 

| Plumber. t 

i Plumbing and Gas Fitting. ! 

Repair Work a specialty. I 

l Cheapest in Memphis. * 

i ' Call for Him.- i 

Memphis Phone 3336. f 

i 578 Wellington ’St., | 

* Memphis, : : : Tenn. • 

i i 

Ford, Richard.491 St. Paul 

RICHARD FORD, \ 

l Practical Plumber. f 

• Satisfactory Work. | 

* Old Phone, New Phone • 

] 1633 Main. 946. | 

i 491 St. Paul Ave., i 

| Memphis, : : : Tenn. j 

Franklin, Andrew.348 Poplar 

Franklin, Preston.280 Rayburn 

Haskins, John.353 Monroe 

Howard, Lee.Douglass Sub-Div. 

| L. HOWARD, 

The Journeyman Plumber, ? 

1 All work promptly attended to. • 

* Memphis Phone 2771. ? 

| Douglas sub-division. | 

• Memphis, : : : Tenn. | 

High, Allen.589 S. Second 

Lawsche, Frank.801 E. Brunswick 

Mason, Samuel B.1081 Franklin 

• • 

S. B. MASON & CO., 

J Practical Plumbers. j 

! Repairing of all kinds prompt- i 

f ly attended to. Your work so- | 
? licited. Satisfaction guaranteed. ; 
i Cumb. Phone 3017. f 

? 1081 Franklin St. | 

1 Memphis, : : : Tenn. ; 

—----•* 


It gives the author much pleasure to 
speak a word concerning the great abil¬ 
ity of Mr. Mason as a plumber. He 
holds a first-class license and this doc¬ 
ument puts him in rank with the lead¬ 
ing plumbers of Memphis, irrespective 
of race. A first-class license permits the 


holder to do the highest class of work 
that can be done. Mr. Mason is quali¬ 
fied to do the plumbing in the White 
House at Washington if he were given 
a chance. At his home he has a first- 
class shop and is prepared to do all 
classes of work at most reasonable rates 
and in the shortest possible time. He 
has under him some of the most skill¬ 
ful workmen in his line, and his re¬ 
sults are warranted to be satisfactory. 
He is the leading colored plumber of 
Memphis, and the mantle of the la¬ 
mented Mr. Rideout seems to have fal¬ 
len on his worthy shoulders. 

Middleton, Chas.669 McKinley 


+~ 

t 




CHAS MIDDLETON, 
Practical Plumber. 
Plumbing and gas fitting. All 
kinds of repair work. 

Memphis Phone 1439. 

669 McKinley St., 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. 






Pruden, T. H.R. 396 N. Second 

Smith, J. W.959 Lenox 

Smith, Wiley.325 Winchester 

Taylor, Larkin M.346 Ashland 

Thompson, Chas.432 E. Elliott 

CHAS THOMPSON, 

! Plumbing and Gas Fitting. | 

f General Repair Work. f 

t Memphis Phone 1548. | 

i 432 Elliott St., Memphis, Tenn. I 

Wells, Albert.982 Caldwell 

Mr. Wells is connected with the 
plumbing firm of S. B. Mason & Co., 
and this is sufficient evidence of the 
fact that he knows his business. 


White, Wm.R. 213 E. Calhoun 

• * 

f WM. WHITE, f 

: General Plumbing & Gas Fitting. ? 
| All orders will receive prompt at- i 
f tention. ? 

I Satisfaction Guaranteed. ? 

i Rear 213 Calhoun Ave., • 

? Memphis, : : : Tenn. j 

























248 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Presiding Elders 


A. M. E. CHURCH. 

Rev. W. A. Lewis..S. Memphis District 

This reverend gentleman heading the 
list of presiding elders of the various 
branches of the Methodist Churcsh is 
one of the best known and most highly 
esteemed ministers in the state of Ten¬ 
nessee. He is a veteran in ministerial 
work and has for a generation been a 
veritable pillar of Methodism in Ten¬ 
nessee. He is a man of great force 
of character. His whole life has been 
one of unceasing effort in the uplift of 
our people. He is a fine judge of human 
nature and has all the requirements for 
successful leadership. He has served 
his church well and in nearly every ca¬ 
pacity. He has been thoroughly tested 
in the fire of real service and nothing 
but pure gold has come from the cruci¬ 
ble. All of his life has been devoted 
to serious study. He is a student that 
is not afraid to burn the midnight oil. 
By his own self-application he has pur¬ 
sued with credit various courses of 
study, both by correspondence and oth¬ 
erwise. The author remembers with 
pleasure the time when the degree of 
bachelor of divinity was conferred upon 
this able minister. He is largely a self- 
made man and his present honorable 
position in his church is more the re¬ 
sult of his own sacrifice and efforts than 
of any special advantages in life. 

Rev. C. H. Shelto, D.D. .. .Memphis Dis¬ 
trict. 

The author cannot hope to do full 
justice in this short sketch to the emi¬ 
nent ability of the great presiding elder 
whose name is at its head. He is one of 
the ablest and most gifted preachers 
in his branch of the Methodist Church, 
and his friends in Memphis take great 
pride in his great successes because of 
the fact that he is considered a home 


product. Many honors have been con¬ 
ferred upon him by those in power in 
the A. M. E. connection. We have been 
reliably informed that the degree of 
H. D. has been conferred upon him by 
one of the leading educational institu¬ 
tions of his church. Hr. Shelto is a use¬ 
ful man and a great man, and being 
still in the prime of life there is no 
reason why the highest honors of his 
church may not be his before the end 
of his career. 


C. M. E. CHURCH. 

Rev. J. C. Martin..S. Memphis District 

The eminent divine whose name graces 
the head of this sketch is a product of 
the Old Volunteer State, having been 
born in Gibson County. Nature seems 
to have rejoiced in his making, for she 
gave to the world one of the noblest 
specimens of physical manhood that is 
the pleasure of the eye to behold. In 
appearance he seems to be the kind 
out of which kings are made, and in 
personal attributes he is a well-rounded 
and symmetrical man. 

He enjoyed splendid educational ad¬ 
vantages in youth. He attended the 
Trenton public school, Roger Williams 
University and Howard University, 
Washington, D. C. For eight years he 
was one of the leading teachers of his 
section of the state and rendered great 
servise for his people. He took a theo¬ 
logical course at Howard University, and 
prepared himself for the most efficient 
service in his high calling. He began 
the ministry in 1890, and in it has mer¬ 
ited some of the highest honors in the 
gift of the church. He has held the 
most important charges in his church, 
having been stationed at Collins Chapel, 
Memphis, Tenn., Miles Memorial Church, 




THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


249 



REV. J. C. MARTIN 


Washington City, and Sidney Park 
Church, Columbia, S. C., which is said 
to have the largest membership in the 
C. M. E. connection. So popular was 
he at each one of these charges and so 
effective was his work that he remained 
the full period of time that it was pos¬ 
sible for one in the travelling connec¬ 
tion to remain. While a pastor in Co¬ 
lumbia and Washington he represented 


the Virginia conference. One of the 
greatest honors ever conferred upon 
him was that of delegate to the Ecu¬ 
menical Conference held in London, 
England, in Sept., 1901. This was prob¬ 
ably the most representative religious 
conference that has been held in modern 
times. Delegates from the whole world 
attended. As there were only nine del¬ 
egates representing his church from the 




250 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


United States it is obvious to all that 
the honor of being a delegate to this 
conference was a great one. 

There is a belief existing, though it 
may be erroneous, that the Lord will 
take care of those to whom he has en¬ 
trusted the expounding of his word, and 
that he will make them not only power¬ 
ful instruments for good, but that he 
will see that they prosper. Such seems 
to be the case in the life of Rev. J. C. 
Martin. Not only has his ministry 
among his people been blessed with 
great and lasting results, but he him- 


people whose activities have been con¬ 
fined to matters outside of the business 
world. He is not only a great church 
financier, but he has ably looked after 
his own financial interests and every 
dollar that he has earned is an honest 
dollar and the result of his own busi¬ 
ness judgment. He is the wealthiest 
of our local ministers, and probably at 
the head of the ministry in this con¬ 
nection. His wealth is not the result 
of mere luck; it is simply the result of 
a shrewd and active brain. He has val¬ 
uable property wherever he has located 



COLLINS CHAPEL 


self has prospered in the material affairs 
of life. He has not neglected the oppor¬ 
tunity of looking after his temporal as 
well as spiritual interests. He has al¬ 
ways known the potency of the dollar 
and has governed himself accordingly. 
He was endowed by nature with rare 
foresight and judgment and he has a 
sense of business possessed by very few 


in the ministry, and has identified him¬ 
self with the substantial interests of 
every community where fortune has de¬ 
creed for him to labor. He is one of 
the leading business men of Memphis. 
He is one of the directors of the Sol¬ 
vent Savings Bank and Trust Company 
of this city, and, also, a member of the 
Hayes Undertaking Company. Among 












THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


251 


his property interests here is a beau¬ 
tiful residence at 1244 McLemore Ave¬ 
nue in the swell Kimbrough subdivision. 

He is a man noted for his charity and 
liberality. He does not give for public 
show and applause. He does not stand 
on the house-tops and announce through 
a megaphone his every little charity, 
but there are countless instances of his 


Rev. E. W. Moseley, Memphis District 

It is the good fortune of some people 
to enjoy perpetual youth notwithstand¬ 
ing the fact that a long, active and suc¬ 
cessful life admonishes them of the ap¬ 
proach of advanced age. It is, also, the 
fortune of some people to have lived in 
the stirring times of history and to have 
brought along with them the strongest 
recollections of the events and men con¬ 
nected with them. Such is the case 
with Rev. E. W. Moseley. He was born 
in the state of Mississippi, and is well 
acquainted with the stirring political 
events in that state in the days of Re¬ 
publican ascendancy. He was educated 
at Alcorn University and Rust Univer¬ 
sity. At the time that he attended the 
former institution Dr. Revels was pres- 



AVERY CHAPEL 


liberal spirit and kindness of heart. 
He has helped the poor and needy and 
endeared himself to many who were sad¬ 
ly in need of a helping hand. He has, 
indeed, prospered but in his prosperity 
he has remembered that all things are 
the Lord’s and that man is simply the 
custodian for their distribution in a 
beneficial way to mankind. He is a 
great preacher and a great man. 


ident, and this famous institution was 
at the zenith of its power. Dr. Moseley 
labored in the teachers’ profession for 
thirteen years in the States of Missis¬ 
sippi and Texas. He entered the min¬ 
istry in 1874, and is one of the oldest 
in his connection in length of service. 
He has been presiding elder for twenty- 
one years and has presided longer than 
any other minister. He has served 














252 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


every district in the conference and 
some of them more than once. He has 
been a member of the Connectional 
Board from Tennessee for fifteen years 
and elected at each General Conference. 
He has served as secretary of the Gen¬ 
eral Mission Board, president of the 
General Extension Board and assistant 
editor of the Christian Index. He has 
always been a power in the councils of 
his church and has done inestimable 
good. He is pleasant, kind and earnest 
Christian worker and unceasing in his 
efforts to further the Master’s kingdom. 

In connection with his religious work 


Rev. J. S. Smothers... .Jackson District 

The state of Maryland has honored 
the state of Tennessee by giving to it 
for service and usefulness one of Mary¬ 
land’s most gifted sons. He attended 
the common schools of Maryland and 
tooiv a special course of training at How¬ 
ard university, Washington, D. C. He 
has been an inveterate student and has 
accomplished great things by his indi¬ 
vidual efforts. His life has been event¬ 
ful and filled with many duties along 
different lines. While in Washington he 
served two terms on the circuit jury, 



ST. STEPHEN’S BAPTIST CHURCH 


he has been very prominently connect¬ 
ed with fraternities in Tennessee. He 
is Past Grand Master of the Free and 
Accepted Masons of this state and 
grand chaplain of this fraternity for 
life. 

He is one of the most interesting men 
one can meet in a day’s journey and 
his reminiscences of the occurrences in 
his stirring and eventful life would be 
of interest to everyone. He is an able 
preacher and a worthy preacher whom 
to know is to love. 


one term on the criminal jury and two 
special terms at other times. 

He has been a delegate to the general 
conference for 16 years. He served as 
presiding elder over the Petersburg and 
Washington districts in the Virginia con¬ 
ference. For 5 years he has been pre¬ 
siding elder in the Tennessee confer¬ 
ence. He is a man of great prominence 
in his church and has done great things 
to raise his branch of the Christian 
church to its present high position of 
influence and power. He is one of na- 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


258 


ture’s noblemen, as may be seen from 
his distinguished appearance. Nature 
seems to have created him out of her 
choicest elements and conferred upon 
him the dignity of a king. 

For ten years he was one of the lead¬ 
ing officers of the True Reformers in 
Tennessee and worked unceasingly to 
advance the cause of this order. He 
himself is an example of the kind of 
men that affiliated with this great fra¬ 
ternity, and it is the hope of many that 
the work of this grand organization is 
not a matter of the past, but that the 
future will vouchsafe for it in Tennes¬ 


see a greater success than has the past. 

Rev. Smothers has filled as pastor 
most of the leading charges in his 
church. He is a preacher of ability and 
experience, having served in the minis¬ 
try a period of 30 years, or since 1878. 
In his early life he engaged in the 
teachers’ profession for three years, but 
abandoned it for service in the church. 
His life as a minister has been a suc¬ 
cess, and the world is much the better 
because of the great services he has ren¬ 
dered for it. He makes his headquar¬ 
ters in Memphis, where he has a sub¬ 
stantial home and a devoted wife. 


Printers 


Haskins, W. P.Howe Institute 

Mr. Haskins is a printer of experi¬ 
ence and ability and has successfully fol¬ 
lowed his profession in several of the 
prominent cities of the United States. 
He has been for some time at the head 
of the Printing Department of Howe In¬ 
stitute and has done much to add to 
the efficiency of the work in that insti¬ 
tution. He is a very ambitious young 
man and nightly dreams of achieving 
fame in his business. He is an up-to- 
date printer with an inventive turn of 
mind, and can measure arms with the 
best in the business. 

Jordan, Katie L., Miss..E. L. Simon & 
Co. 

Miss Jordan is the most skillful young 
woman printer in Memphis. For several 
years she has been the mainstay of the 
E. L. Simon & Co. printing house and 
has a reputation for ability that is very 
gratifying to her friends. She is a 
graduate of Kortrecht High School and 
a worthy, industrious young woman. 


Neilson, S. W.E. L. Simon & Co. 

Mr. Neilson is a member of the firm 
of E. L. Simon & Co. and is a printer 
of experience and ability. Before con¬ 
necting himself with his present firm he 
ran a printing establishment in another 
section of the city and was very suc¬ 
cessful. He is a quiet, pleasant, intelli¬ 
gent man and an artistic, up-to-date 
printer. He is the business manager of 
the E. L. Simon Co., and the right man 
in the right place. 

Snelling, E. S.Lemoyne Institute 

The jovial, hearty and most excellent 
young man bearing this euphonious name 
is the efficient manager of the Print¬ 
ing Department of Lemoyne Normal In¬ 
stitute. He is a high class artist in his 
line and one of the most capable in the 
business. His work is the highest prod¬ 
uct of the printers’ art and is a credit 
to his ability. 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


254 


Private Schools 


Howe Institute. .St. Paul and Wellington 


i 


HOWE INSTITUTE 

FACULTY 


Rev. T. 0. Fuller, A. M., Ph. D., 
Principal. 

SHAW UNIVERSITY. 

Ethics, Literature, Economy. 

Prof. W. T. Stockley, A. B. 

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVER¬ 
SITY. 

Grammar, Composition, Latin, 
General History. 

Miss Annie E. Brown. 
GENEVA COLLEGE. 
Mathematics, Latin, Sciences. 

Rev. J. B. Woods, D. D. 
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVER¬ 
SITY. 

High English Theology. 

Miss Mabel D. Scott. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL. 
HOOKS’S SCHOOL OF MUSIC. 

MUSIC. 

Mrs. Rosa B. Fuller. 
HOWE INSTITUTE. 

Intermediate Grade Work and Pre¬ 
ceptress. 


Miss Lillie M. Owen. 
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVER¬ 
SITY. 

Elementary Grade Work. 

Miss V. Alma Carter. 

DE FAYE INSTITUTE. 

Sewing, Drafting, Cutting, Fitting. 

Miss Mabel C. Crump. 
HOWE INSTITUE. 

Girls’ Industries; Housekeeper. 

Miss Lula Greenlaw. 
HOWE INSTITUTE. 

Bookkeeper. 

Miss Lula I. Hobson. 
WALDEN UNIVERSITY. 

Stenography, Typewriting, Private 
Secretary. 

Miss Eugenia B. Searcv. 
HOWE INSTITUTE. 

Assistant Elementary Grade Work 

WILLIAM P. HASKINS, 

LE MOYNE INSTITUTE. 
PRINTING. 


Founded for the Moral, indus¬ 
trial and Intellectual Training of 
the Colored Youth. Controlled by 
the Colored Baptists of Tennes¬ 
see. Nearly Five Hundred Stu¬ 
dents from Nine States. Session 
of Eight Months. Competent 
Teachers. Best Method of In¬ 
struction. Dormitory for Girls. 
Five Departments: Literary, In¬ 


dustrial, Ministerial, Missionary 
Training, Stenography and Type¬ 
writing. Board per Month. 
Tuition for the first six grades, 
$1.25. Higher grades, $1.50. Mu¬ 
sic per month $1.50. Stenography 
and Typewriting, $4.00. Sewing, 
50c. Printing 50c. Basketry 50c. 
Address: Principal Howe Inst., 

Memphis, Tenn. 


The author is pleased to write a few 
words commendatory of the work of 
Howe Institute. Under the able man¬ 
agement of Dr. Fuller and his efficient 
corps of teachers this institution has 


X 

come to the front and compares favor¬ 
ably with any other institution of simi¬ 
lar character. We have already written 
up this school in another section of 
this book. 







255 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Le Moyne Normal Institute. .240 S. Orleans. 










Le Moyne Normal Institute 


! 

: 

I 


FACULTY. 

A. J. Steele, A. M. Principal 
Emeritus. 

Ludwig T. Larsen, A. M., Princi¬ 
pal. 

OLIVET COLLEGE 

Classical Fellow University of 
Michigan 1907-08. 

Alice A. Flagg, Preceptress. 
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 
Mathematics. 

Alma C. Childs. 

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 
MICHIGAN 

English Literature and Composi¬ 
tion. 

Arthur Henry Thompson, B. S. 
COLGATE UNIVERSITY. 
Natural Science. 

Laura A. Peck, A. B. 
DOANE COLLEGE. 
History, Civil Government. 
Esther Nichol, A. B. 
YANKTON COLLEGE. 
Psychology, Methods. 
Edward S. Snelling, Jr. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INSTI¬ 
TUTE 

Printing Department. 

Wm. T. Jefferson. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INSTI¬ 
TUTE. 

Woodworking Department. 
Genevieve Mae Todd, A. B. 
Bachelor of Music, Oberlin Col¬ 
lege. 

Music Department. 


Mildred A. Christian. 

IOWA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL 

Vocal Music. 

Florence Purtill. 

OREAD COLLEGE. 

Girls’ Industrial Work 

Robert P. Bailey, Jr. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Head Teacher Grammar Dept. 

Henrietta T. Bentley. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INSTI¬ 
TUTE. 

Assistant Grammar Dept. 
Cornelia E. Lewis. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Intermediate Dept. Fifth Grade. 
Evelyn V. Johnson. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Intermediate Dept. Fourth Grade. 
Virginia B. Soward. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Primary Dept. Third Grade. 
Emma E. Hatcher. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Primary Dept. Second Grade. 

Charlotte Rivers-Bryan. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
Primary Dept. First Grade. 
Julia A. Condict. 

ADRIAN COLLEGE. 

Librarian. 

Carrie A. Larsen. 

OLIVET COLLEGE. 
Matron. 






The worthy successor of Prof. A. J. 
Steele as principal of Lemoyne Institute 
is Prof. Ludwig T. Larsen, a graduate of 
Olivet College and a classical fellow of 
the University of Michigan. He is a 
young and active man in the very prime 
of life, and by inclination and educa¬ 
tion capable of the greatest service in the 
field of usefulness he has just entered. 
This well-known institution is to be 
congratulated by the honor conferred 
upon it in having such a worthy and 
able successor to Prof. A. J. Steele, 
who was at the head of this institution 
for nearly two generations. The new 
professor is a man of ripe scholarship 
and long experience in the teachers’ pro¬ 


fession. In such high esteem was he 
held by his alma mater that he was 
elected a member of its faculty as soon 
as he had graduated, and remained in 
this capacity for ten years, or until he 
assumed his present position. He seems 
to be a man of untiring erfergy, enthu¬ 
siasm and resolution to succeed in his 
new field of activity. All who have 
met him are very favorably impressed 
with his personality and believe that 
the mantle of Prof. Steele has fallen on 
very worthy shoulders. Sincerity and 
real interest in his work are evident in 
his every action, and the good people of 
this community consider his coming a 
blessing to their welfare. 








256 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 






llnnwratg of llhst (Ln\m y &&?£ 


i 

I 

1 

I 

•i- 


1190 S. Phillips Place, Memphis, 
Tenn. 

DEPARTMENTS. 

Medicine. 

Law. 

Dentistry. 

Pharmacy. 

Nurse Training. 

FACULTY 

1907-08. 

M. V. Lynk, M. S., M. D.., L.L. B. 

President and Professor of Ma¬ 
teria, Medica, Therapeutics and 
Forensic Medicine. 

Robert G. Martin, M. D. 
Secretary and Professor of the 
Theory and Practice of Medicine. 

J. C. Hairston, M. D. 
Professor of Diseases of Women 
and Abdominal Surgery, Surgeon 
in Chief to Hairston Hospital. 

C. A. Terrell, M. D. 
Professor of General and Ortho¬ 
pedic Surgery, Surgeon-in-Chief 
to the Terrell-Patterson Infir¬ 
mary. 

* A. M. Kittrell, M. D. 

Professor of Anatomy. 

L. G. Patterson, M. D. 
Professor of Physiology. 

L. S. Henderson, M. D. 
Professor of Pediatrics. 

A. D. Byas, M. D. 
Professor of Physical Diagnosis. 
A. L. Thompson, M. D. 
Professor of Obstetrics. 

E. E. Nesbitt, M. D. 
Professor of Diseases of the Eye, 
Ear, Nose and Throat. 


E. C. Craigen, A. M., M. D. 

Professor of Pathology. 

Mrs. B. S. Lynk, Ph. C. 
Professor of Chemistry and Medi¬ 
cal Latin. 

J. L. DeLoney, M.D., 

Professor of Venereal Diseases. 

George R. Jackson, Ph. C. 

Professor of Pharmacy. 

J. C. Clark, D. D. S. 

Metallurgy. 

H. H. Kennedy, D. D. S. 

Operative Dentistry. 

F. M. Kneeland, M. D. 

Nurse Training. 

E. H. Jones, B. S. 

Chemical Laboratory. 

Felix R. Newman, M. D. 

Pediatrics and Physiology. 

John W. Winchester, M. D. 
Anatomy. 

John H. Seward, D. D. S. 

Dental Technique. 

Note—During the past session 
special lectures were delivered as 
follows: 

E. E. Francis, M. D., of the 
Memphis Hospital Medical Col¬ 
lege. Subject, “The Surgical An¬ 
atomy of Hernia.” 

Louis Le Roy, M. D., of the Col¬ 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, 
Memphis. Subject, “The Pathol¬ 
ogy of Tuberculosis.” 

R. F. Boyd, M. D., of Meharry 
Medical College. Subject, “Ab¬ 
dominal Surgery.” 


HISTORICAL. 

The University of West Tennessee 
was organized at Jackson, Tenn., in 
1900 for the purpose of furnishing fa¬ 
cilities for the higher education of Afro- 
American youth. It aims to do the 
greatest good to the greatest number 
by inculcating the young of the race 
with the highest ideals of womanhood 
and manhood, and giving an opportunity 


for the broadest mental culture. Six 
full sessions and one part of a session 
were held in Jackson, Tenn., during 
which time the school enrolled students 
from twelve different states and one 
foreign country. We feel that its ■ claim 
upon the philanthropic and educational 
public is established beyond dispute. Its 
graduates have made an excellent record 
before the various state examining 
boards. 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS 


257 


New Lccation. 

The rapid growth of the school made 
it necessary that we move to a more 
metropolitan center, where facilities 
would be adequate for a great educa¬ 
tional plant. Accordingly, in the spring 
of 1907, the trustees decided to locate 
the school in Memphis, Tenn., a city of 
over 200,000 inhabitants and business 


and nurse training are in successful oper¬ 
ation. Memphis furnishes a wealth of 
clinical material second to no city of 
the South. 

Location and Buildings. 

The school campus is beautifully lo¬ 
cated in the southern part of Memphis, 
on two car lines, the suburban and Lin¬ 
den avenue—just far enough removed 



M. V. LYNK, M.S., M.D., L.L.B. 


and manufacturing interests that will 
easily make it the commercial mistress 
of the Mississippi valley. Well situ¬ 
ated geographically and environed by a 
friendly and progressive community, we 
believe that the high ideals early set 
by the school may be worked out to 
their highest fruition. The departments 
of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law 


from the noise of the business district 
and within five minutes’ car ride from 
the proposed new $3,000,000 union sta¬ 
tion. 

On the campus are two commodious 
and well arranged buildings known as 
North and South Hall respectively. In 
North Hall are the president’s office, 
chapel, infirmary, chemical, anatomical, 


















258 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


bacteriological, pathological, histological 
and dental laboratories. South Hall is 
divided by folding doors into two large 
lecture rooms, capable of accommodating 
300 students. This hall may be con¬ 
verted into one large auditorium by 
opening the folding doors. The grounds 
and buildings are valued at $15,000. 

M. V. Lynk, M. S., M. D., L.L. B. 
President of the University of West 
Tennessee. 

The subject of this sketch was born 
in 1871 near Brownsville, Tenn. He ob¬ 
tained his education in the public school 
of Brownsville, at Walden University 
and Meharry Medical College. Few men 
of the race have led a more active and 
useful life than he. Graduating from 
Meharry Medical College in 1891 at the 
age of 19 years, he began the active 
practice of his chosen profession at 
Jackson, Tenn., where he had a very 
successful and lucrative practice. He 
has always been of a literary trend of 
mind, and therefore, not being satisfied 
with his accomplishments in the liter¬ 
ary and medical fields, he began the 
study of law in 1900 and is now an emi¬ 
nent member of the bar of the state of 
Tennessee. To. Dr. Lynk is due the 
credit of publishing the first Negro 
Medical Journal ever published in the 
world. He edited and published the 
Medical and Surgical Observer from 
1892 to 1894. He published “Lynk’s 
Magazine”—a literary monthly maga¬ 
zine, from 1898 to 1900. Dr. Lynk is 
also the author of two books, “The 
Afro-American School Speaker,” and 
“The Black Troopers,” or ‘“Daring Deeds 
of the Negro Soldiers in the Spanish- 
American War.” Over 20,000 copies of 
these books have been sold and read. 
Poems from the Afro-American School 
Speaker have been recited by the chil¬ 
dren of our race from Maine to Cali¬ 
fornia. The greatest work, however, un¬ 
dertaken by Dr. Lynk is the founding 


of the University of West Tennessee. 
He is a firm believer in industrial edu¬ 
cation for the masses and higher edu¬ 
cation for the leaders of the race. Al¬ 
ready many young men and young 
women have gone out from this school 
to bless and uplift their people. Few 
people are aware of the many sacrifices 
that Dr. Lynk and his wife, one of the 
truest of helpmeets, have made for this 
school and the aspiring of their people. 
In any undertaking the subject of our 
sketch does not ask, “What will it ben¬ 
efit me?” but ‘What will it benefit my 
race?” While he recognizes money as 
one of the greatest auxiliaries of suc¬ 
cess, he does in no wise treat it as the 
end of life; for had he so willed he 
could have been immensely wealthy 
through an extensive and exceedingly 
profitable practice of medicine, which 
he enjoyed at Jackson, Tenn. He is sat¬ 
isfied with work well done and remem¬ 
bers that: 

“Men grown gray in labor grand, 

Are jewels fashioned by the Master’s 
hand.” 


Mrs. B. Steven Lynk, Ph. C. 

It is seldom that women become emi¬ 
nent in the professions or in scientific 
work. Mrs. Lynk is an exception to 
this rule. She obtained her literary ed¬ 
ucation at Lane College, Jackson, Tenn., 
from which she graduated in 1891. She 
taught school for a number of years in 
Tipton county, Tennessee. She married 
her distinguished husband, Dr. M. V. 
Lynk, in 1893. Her husband’s success 
in life is in no small measure due to 
her untiring assistance and advice. 
When he is practicing medicine she is 
ever ready to help soothe the pains of 
the suffering. In his duties as an au¬ 
thor she has rendered him invaluable 
service in looking after his manuscript. 
In fact, she is authoress of a very in¬ 
teresting little brochure, “Advice to 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


259 


Afro-American Women,” which, as its 
name implies, contains some very whole¬ 
some advice. She graduated from the 
pharmaceutical department of the Uni¬ 
versity of West Tennessee in 1903 and 
has acceptably filled the chair of chem¬ 
istry and medical Latin ever since. Her 
work in this capacity and as general 


helpmeet to her husband is as heavy as 
that of any other teacher in the uni¬ 
versity, except, probably, that of the 
president. We advise the young girls 
of the race to emulate her good exam¬ 
ple—a woman of a lovable disposition, 
of an immaculate character and giant 
intellect—a benefactress to her husband 
and race. 


Professional Nurses 


Armour, Sarah Mrs.679 Pontotoc 

Mrs. Armour is one of our most com¬ 
petent and experienced nurses and can 
be relied upon to know her business. 
Bennett, Jennie, Mrs..7 Charleston Hill 
Brown, Emma, Mrs.412 St. Paul 

For years Mrs. Brown has been one 
of the leading nurses of Memphis, and it 
is probable that there are few, indeed, 
who know more about the work that 
she has so long and successfully fol¬ 
lowed. 

Cassell, Camille, Mrs....360 S. Cynthia 

One of the best known nurses among 
some of the very best .people of Mem¬ 
phis is Mrs. Camille Cassell, who has 
had many years of successful experi¬ 
ence in that capacity. 

Crudup, Maggie, Miss.688 E. Ga. 

Miss Crudup is a talented and trained 
professional nurse, and has the ability 
to give perfect satisfaction under all 
circumstances. She has qualification 
and experience and is first class in 


every respect. 

Davis, Lucinda, Mrs.617 Monroe 

Dickerson, Rachel, Mrs.681 Lane 


Mrs. Dickerson is well and favorably 
known as one of the leading nurses in 
Memphis, and anyone desiring satisfac¬ 
tory service will make no mistake in 
looking her up. She knows her busi¬ 
ness, and that is a very essential mat¬ 
ter in such a profession. 


Gaines, Mamie, Miss.Breedlove 

Miss Gaines has had special training 
in her profession and is experienced and 
successful in it. 

Hall, Mary, Mrs.952 McDowell 

Mrs. Hall has been successful in 
everything that she ever followed for 
a livelihood and she has been as suc¬ 
cessful in nursing as she has been in 
anything else. 

Hart, Mariah, Mrs.362 S. Humphrey 

Haskins, Lou, Mrs.540 Williams 

Hill, Harriet, Mrs.303 N. Dunlap 

Hines, Pattie, Mrs. .. . 358y 2 N. Dunlap 

Jackson, Sarah.677 Autumn 

James, Alice, Mrs..Walnut near Linden 

Marsh, Junnie, Mrs.Baltimore 

McBride, Evelyn, Mrs. 680y 2 Phelan 

Mrs. McBride has a reputation in her 
profession second to none in Memphis. 
She has followed nursing for 40 years 
or more and is the equal of any in the 
business. 

McNeal, Mary, Mrs.346 Clay 

Mrs. McNeal has an enviable reputa¬ 
tion among the first class nurses of 
Memphis and it is doubtful if she has a 
superior. So satisfactory have been 
her services that she has been repeat¬ 
edly called in the same families for 
years. She is a highly intelligent 
woman and has a standing second to 
none among the best people of the city. 
Her services are in great demand, and it 
is seldom that she has a breathing spell 
that she can call her own. 


















260 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Outlaw, Mary, Mrs.R. 574 Jackson 

Mrs. Outlaw is one of the oldest and 
most experienced nurses, and she has 
the personal endorsement of some of 
the leading physicians of Memphis. 
This is sufficient evidence of her splen¬ 
did ability. 

Patterson, Mattie, Miss.101 S. 2nd 

Miss Patterson in ability as a nurse 
is in the first class. She is always em¬ 
ployed and appreciated by the best peo¬ 
ple, for she is thoroughly competent 
and gives complete satisfaction. 

Phillips, Ella.1099 Florida 

Phipps, Jennie, Mrs.R. 699 Linden 

Rozelle, Eliza, Mrs.647 1 / 2 Wilkerson 

Mrs. Rozell has a record for compe¬ 
tence and ability in her profession as a 
nurse. She knows the business in all of 
its details and gives satisfaction at all 
times. She knows the business too well 
to fail. 

Scruggs, Narcissus, Mrs. 571 E. Hamp¬ 
ton. 

Mrs. Scruggs has a first class reputa¬ 
tion as a professional nurse and en¬ 
joys the patronage of many of the best 
people in the community. 

Shields, Nannie, Mrs. .Breedlove and 
Belt Line. Phone, Main, 5280. 

Mrs. Shields enjoys a splendid reputa¬ 
tion as a first class nurse. She is ex¬ 
perienced, painstaking, and conscien¬ 
tious in the performance of her duties 
and always gives perfect satisfaction. 
Smith, Emeline.27 S. McLean 

Smith, S. May, Miss. .915 State. ’Phone 
Main 4168. 

Miss Smith is a graduate in profes¬ 
sional nursing. Her experience has been 
extensive and her success great. She 
is probably the best professionally 
trained nurse in Memphis and knows 
just what to do and how to do every¬ 
thing that an emergency demands. 

Taylor, Alice, Mrs.. 639 Wilkerson. 
’Phone Main 2642A. 

For 15 years or more Mrs. Taylor has 
been one of the leading nurses of Mem¬ 


phis and has made a reputation that is 
as wide as it is gratifying to her 
friends. She has a host of patrons that 
know her and believe in her ability, 
and they have never been mistaken. 
Taylor, Charlotte, Mrs.. 547 Dutro 

Place. 

Mrs. Taylor is one of our leading 
nurses and has the ability to give per¬ 
fect satisfaction. 

Taylor, Jane, Mrs.595 St. Paul 

Mrs. Jane Taylor is known very ex¬ 
tensively and favorably as an experi¬ 
enced nurse and no doubt gets satisfac¬ 
tory results. 

Troy, Lucy, Mrs.554 Alston 

Mrs. Troy has been highly recom¬ 
mended to the writer as an experienced 
and competent nurse. 

Williams, Henrietta, Mrs. .607 De Soto. 
’Phone 1029. 

Mrs. Henrietta Williams has had 10 
years’ experience in the profession of 
nursing, 5 years of which have been in 
connection with the work of some of 
the leading physicians of Memphis, 
whose personal endorsement she has. 
Her services are in great demand, and 
she is not only a favorite with the phy¬ 
sicians of Memphis, but with those who 
are acquainted with her superior ability. 
Williams, Susan, Mrs. .Zanon and Mare- 
chofneil. ’Phone Hemlock 440. 

For 13 years Mrs. Williams has faith¬ 
fully and satisfactorily performed the 
duties of a nurse and enjoys a well- 
earned reputation for experience and 
ability in her line. 

Williams, Tiney, Mrs.547 S. 4th 

For 45 years Mrs. Tiney Williams has 
been nursing, and during this time she 
has never been discharged nor has she 
lost either a patient or a child. She is a 
remarkable woman and has done remark¬ 
able work. She can sit up for 2 weeks 
with hardly a minute’s sleep. 

Willis, Alice, Mrs.Walnut 












THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


261 


Public Library 


Le Moyne Branch of Cossitt Library, 
240 S. Orleans. 

This library is open to the public at 
large, and anyone conforming to its reg¬ 
ulations will be accommodated. It is 
the pleasure of the librarian and man¬ 
agement to oblige the reading public, 
and they are anxious to stimulate and 
promote the growth of intelligence 
among the colored people of Memphis. 
It is a source of regret with those who 


are interested in the cause of education 
that more of our people do not take ad¬ 
vantage of the great opportunity af¬ 
forded them by this library. It is 
really a public library and is intended 
to serve the wants of the colored citi¬ 
zens of Memphis just as the Cossitt li¬ 
brary serves the wants of the white 
people. In this book we want to exhort 
our people to take advantage of this 
excellent library and make the most of 
it. 


Public Schools 




Maggie B. Cox. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 


i Teachers. 

! KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL, 

i 

? G. P. Hamilton, Principal. 

| LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

1 S. A. Haynes. 

f BRANCH NORMAL INST. 

• 

* Aleda E. Jones. 

i LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

• 


| KORTRECHT GRAMMAR 

SCHOOL, 

E. L. Honesty, Principal. 

I MECHANICSBURG HIGH 

i SCHOOL. 

• 

M. L. Jones. 

I ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVER¬ 
SITY. 

Mary E. Hall. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 


Barnetta Goldsby. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

N. E. Whiteman. 

TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY ! 

i 

Maud E. Mosby. ? 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL I 

Annie L. Taylor. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

• 

Beatrice Robinson. 

HOWE INSTITUTE 

Hannah Wilson. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. ? 

: 

• 

Emma L. Crittenden. • 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. ! 

Sadie L. Saunders. 1 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL. i 








The principal of Kortrecht High 
chool is a native of Memphis and re¬ 
ceived his education within the city’s 
corporate limits. He has been con¬ 
nected with the schools of Memphis 


since 1884, and has served, as principal 
of the High school since 1892. At the 
age of 10 he was a public reader and 
letter writer. He is the author of this 
book, “The Bright Side of Memphis.” 






262 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


The principal of the Kortrecht Gram¬ 
mar school is Prof. E. L. Honesty, an ed¬ 
ucator of experience and ability. He is 
a native of Ohio and has been connected 
with the schools of Memphis since 1892. 
The city school system of Memphis was 
very fortunate when it secured the 
services of such an able and experienced 
teacher as Mr. Honesty. Not only did 
he bring to the schools ability of the 
highest order, but he brought to them 


Mr. L. H. Fields, the principal of 
Grant school, is an educator of long ex¬ 
perience and splendid ability. He is a 
native of Tennessee and has been con¬ 
nected with the city schools of Mem¬ 
phis since 1884. He has been tireless 
and unceasing in his efforts to do good 
among our people and has contributed 
his share toward their elevation and 
progress. In his life are combined a 
profession and a calling. By profession 


.a..*.a..*..i 


..a»a..*..*..*.^ 


GRANT SCHOOL. 

L. H. Fields, Principal. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

J. D. Cotton. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

M. A. Jackson. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Mattye E. Porter. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Lilly J. Yancey. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

C. Belle Jackson. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

S. S. Brown. 

ALCORN MECHANICAL AND 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 


Myrtie E. Allen. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

F. L. Cummings. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Jessie B. Rudd. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Maybelle C. Irving. 
CIRCLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 

Georgia A. Anderson. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Ethel C. Jones. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Marie B. Jones. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 


4 




character of the highest order. He is 
a high-toned gentleman incapable of any¬ 
thing that is unworthy or dishonorable. 
The author has been personally ac¬ 
quainted with him since 1892 and each 
succeeding year has but added to the 
author’s appreciation of the many vir¬ 
tues of Prof. Honesty. No man bearing 
such a significant name would willingly 
act in such a manner as to bring re¬ 
proach upon it. Certainly the worthy 
gentleman has not. He is a quiet, 
pleasant, interesting gentleman, free 
from affectation and self-importance. 
He is a student and original thinker and 
in every respect an eminently practical 
man. He is an ideal husband and has 
a devoted wife and interesting family. 


he is a school teacher and by calling he 
is an ordained minister of the gospel. In 
this dual capacity he is in position to 
accomplish untold good. His estimable 
wife is an ex-teacher of the city schools 
of Memphis and a woman of culture and. 
refinement. 

Prof. C. J. Neal, the principal of 
Carnes school, is a veteran in educational 
work in the state of Tennessee. His 
whole life has been devoted to the cause 
of education and he has achieved great 
success in his educational work. He is 
a teacher of broad information and fine 
executive ability and his results in the 
school room have always been satisfac¬ 
tory. He is a, good citizen and a first 



THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


263 






i 

I 


CARNES SCHOOL. 

C. J. Neal, Principal. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

R. H. Neville. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Bertha E. Jones. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Lucie E. Campbell. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Marie L. McCulloch. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Susie C. Yancey. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 


Minnie E. Allen. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Electa E. Wright. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Mattie H. Bell. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Cora E. Suton. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Alice M. Taylor. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Blanche Neal. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Beatrice Edwards. 
HOWE INST. 














VIRGINIA AVENUE SCHOOL. 

I. J. Graham, Principal. 
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY 

George W. Crawford. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Violet C. White. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Ida Mae Stevenson. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Annie 0. Jackson. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Kate L. Meriwether. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 


Mary E. Green. ? 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. ! 


Estelle A. Martin. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Myrtle L. Daniels. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Lucile A. Washington. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Jennie N. King. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Gertrude Bowles. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 






class man with an innate tendency to 
attend strictly to his own personal af¬ 
fairs. He is prominently connected 
with S. S. work among the Baptists of 
Memphis, and holds a firm place in their 
affections. Two of his daughters are 
teachers in the Memphis city schools, 
and his whole family reflects great 
credit upon him both as citizen and 
teacher. 

Mr. I. J. Graham, principal of Virginia 
Avenue school, is a teacher of long and 
.successful experience and has been con¬ 
nected with the city schools of Mem¬ 


phis since 1884. From his early youth 
he enjoyed the best educational advan¬ 
tages that his native state of Georgia 
could afford. He received a classical 
education at Atlanta University and is 
intellectually a man of ability. Not 
only is he a successful teacher, but he 
is a successful man on general princi¬ 
ples. He has been a marvel of indus¬ 
try, economy and thrift, and has accumu¬ 
lated a considerable quantity of the 
goods of this world. He is easily the 
wealthiest school teacher in the state 
of Tennessee and possibly in the whole 
South. If perchance he should ever be- 



264 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


LAROSE SCHOOL 


L. E. Brown, Principal. 
FISK UNIVERSITY 

R. H. Fleming. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 
A. Love. 

RUST UNIVERSITY 
Priscilla Reed. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Beatrice Sample. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Effie Yancy. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 


Olivia Jenkins. 
FISK UNIVERSITY 


Annie Hudson. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Marzie Franklin. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Lula Wallace. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Louvenia Randolph. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Elmira Pritchett. 
DYERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL. 


»T... 










... 


PORTER SCHOOL 

P. A. Dickerson, Principal. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Mary W. Jennings. 

FISK UNIVERSITY 

Rosa T. Goldsby. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Hester L. Mosby. 
LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

R. A. Flood. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Bessie Simon. 
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY 


Florence P. Cooper. 

FISK UNIVERSITY 

Anna Polk. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Georgia Dickerson. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Sadie E. Savage. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

Mary E. McMichael. 
HOWE INSTITUTE 

Ronnie B. Steen. 
KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 








i 


come superannuated and have to discon¬ 
tinue his duties in the school room he 
will not need the benefit of the pension 
fund to provide for him the necessaries 
of life. He can retire from active serv¬ 
ice conscious of the fact that he has 
tried to do his whole professional duty 
and can live on the shady side of Easy 
street the balance of his days. His de¬ 
voted wife is an alumnus of Kortrecht 
High school and one of the most intel¬ 
lectual women ever honored with a di¬ 
ploma from that institution. 

Mr. L. E. Brown, principal of LaRose 
school, is a gentleman of unusual abil¬ 
ity in the teachers’ profession. He is a 
graduate of the collegiate department 
of Fisk University and has been con¬ 
nected with the city schools of Mem¬ 


phis for many years. Before receiving 
his appointment to the principalship of 
LaRose school he was assistant principal 
of Kortrecht High school and principal 
of Greenwood school. In his former ca¬ 
pacity as teacher in the High school the 
author had the opportunity of noting 
the character of his work. The author 
takes pleasure in stating that in tne 
school room he has never seen a teacher 
more interested in pupils and more con¬ 
scientious in the performance of his 
duty than Mr. Brown. Under him the 
interests of the pupil are faithfully 
looked after, and the results are as satis¬ 
factory as can be secured by any teacher. 
He is an experienced and successful chor¬ 
ister and has done much for musical in¬ 
spiration in Memphis. 









THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


265 


Mr. P. A. Dickerson, principal of Por¬ 
ter school, is the youngest of the prin¬ 
cipals of the Memphis city schools. He 
is a native of Memphis and a bright ex¬ 
ample of the possibilities that await 
even a Memphis young man if he has 
the true spirit of determination to do 
something and to be somebody. Mr. 
Dickerson is a young man of fine abil¬ 
ity and will give a good account of him¬ 
self in the performance of his duties as a 
principal. He is ambitions, earnest and 
gritty and will succeed in whatever he 
attempts. His estimable wife is an 
alumnus of Kortrecht High school and 
an inspiration for him to do his best. 
Kortrecht High school has been highly 
honored by the selection of Mr. Dicker- 
son as principal of one of the leading 
public schools of Memphis. 


GREENWOOD SCHOOL 

James T. Franklin, Principal, 
i LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

• <• 

? Samuel Rayford. 

I RUST UNIVERSITY " 

i Clara Booker. 

! LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

• 

l Ida B. Williamson. ! 

i KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL 

• •> 

f Carrie B. Green. ? 

| HOWE INST. i 

• f 

The principal of this school is Mr. J. 
T. Franklin, who has been connected 
with the cause of popular education in 
the state of Tennessee ever since before 
he reached his majority. He is a grad¬ 
uate of LeMoyne Normal Institute, but 
even this honor gives but a faint idea 
of his splendid scholarship. He is one 
of the best thinkers and most gifted 
scholars connected with the city schools 
of Memphis. He is an earnest, pains¬ 
taking student who is not afraid to burn 
the midnight oil to gain knowledge and 
power. He has done considerable spe¬ 


cial work along different lines of study 
and is from every standpoint a well in¬ 
formed man. He is strong in mathemat¬ 
ics, science, history and literature, and 
has made quite a reputation as a liter¬ 
ary writer and author among the teach¬ 
ers of Memphis and has produced several 
creditable works, among which may be 
named the following: “Midday Glean¬ 
ings,” “Crimson Altars,” “Jessamine 
Poems,” and “Drama Retribution.” He 
is a gentleman of unbounded ambition 
and unremitting in his efforts to gain 
knowledge and to be useful. He is a 
teacher that reflects great credit upon 
the schools of Memphis. 

11 

KLONDYKE SCHOOL 

J. M. Jones, Principal. !! 

TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY 

Estelle M. Wilson. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

< ' 

Mary A. Wade. 

KORTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL " 

( > 

Bennie Sampson. * 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. 

Birdie E. White. 

LEMOYNE NORMAL INST. I; 

( > 

The principal, Mr. J. M. Jones, is a 
native of Mississippi and has been con¬ 
nected with the city schools of Memphis 
for several years. He has brought to 
the schools of Memphis successful ex¬ 
perience and ability and is a man well 
equipped for the proper performance of 
the duties of his position. He is a mod¬ 
est, unassuming, quiet gentleman, with a 
record as clean as a hound’s tooth. He 
is a teacher of both day school and Sun- 
I day school and a ceaseless worker in 
the effort to do good. He is a man of 
deeds rather than words, and has a 
tendency to attend to his personal and 
professional affairs to the exclusion of 
everything else. 












RESIDENCE OF M. L. CLAY. 








< 



























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


267 


Railway Postal Clerks 


Andrews, C. C. .. .Memphis & Vicksburg 
Bailey, Raymond. . Kansas City & Mem¬ 
phis. 

Blanchett, Winthrop. .Memphis, Grenada 


& N. 0. 

Bruce, J. R.Memphis & N. 0. 

Butler, W. W. .. . Memphis, Grenada & 
N. 0. 

Bynum, W. C. .Birmingham & Memphis 

Carroll, W. L.Memphis & N. 0. 

Clark, W. H. G.Memphis & N. 0. 


Before entering the railway postal 
service Mr. Clark was one of the lead¬ 
ing teachers of Shelby County. He is a 
well educated, polished and charming 
gentleman. 

Coffey, J. R.Memphis & N. 0. 

Mr. Coffey is an ex-representative of 
the teacher’s profession. He has been 
in the postal service for several years 
and is one of the best in the service^ 

Cooper, Thos. S. .Chattanooga & Memphis 
Gassoway, B. F. .Memphis & Vicksburg 


Harper, G. W. .Memphis, Grenada & N.O. 

Harvey, W. J.Memphis & N. 0. 

Mr. Harvey is a graduate of Roger 
Williams University and a very talented 
and accomplished man. He is a musi¬ 
cian of ability and very serviceable to 
the community in this line. He is one 
of the oldest and most proficient clerks. 
Ivy, P. W. .. .Memphis, Grenada & N. 0. 

Johnson, J. T.St. Louis & Memphis 

Mr. Johnson is a member of one of the 
brightest and most intellectual families 
in Memphis. He is probably the leading 
colored inventor of Memphis, his name 
being connected with a valuable patent 
that revolutionizes automobile construc¬ 
tion. He is the bright genius behind the 
Hayes-Patton Automobile Company. 
McNairy, G. W..Memphis & Vicksburg 
Nash, Leon. .Memphis, Grenada & N. 0. 

SUBSTITUTES. 

Ross, L. J. 

Upchurch, M. S. 


Real Estate 


Bryant, J. L.358 Beale 

Memphis Phone 624. 

| Cumb. Phone 4255-A. ; 

f 358 Beale Ave., Upstairs. 

| THE COTTAGE REALTY CO., 

| J. L. Bryant, Mgr. 

f Rental Agents. 

| Makes Loans on Real Estate. 

£ Memphis, Tenn. 


Willis, J. B.358 Beale 






Memphis Phone 624. 

Cumb. Phone 4255-A. 

THE COTTAGE REALTY CO. 
J. B. Willis, Mgr., 

Rental Agents. 

Makes Loans on Real Estate. 
358 Beale Ave., Upstairs. 
Memphis, Tenn. 




Walker, M. P.358 Beale 

Memphis Phone 624. ? 

I Cumb. Phone 4255-A. j 

• 358 Beale Ave., Upstairs. I 

f THE COTTAGE REALTY CO. ? 
| M. P. Walker, Mgr., | 

• Rental Agents. f 

f Makes Loans on Real Estate. | 
| Memphis, Tenn. 














268 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Rectifiers of Distilled Spirits 


Henderson, A. M.308 Poplar 

Mr. Henderson was for many years 
connected with the United States Gov¬ 
ernment in the capacity* of gauger and 
rectifier of distilled spirits, in which 
business he is an authority. 

Fred C. Moore.351 Beale 

Mr. Moore is the foreman and chief 


rectifier of the M. L. Clay Co., of this 
city. He is an experienced man and 
knows his business. He is pleasant and 
affable and merits the best wishes and 
appreciation of all. He looks like a New 
York alderman. 


Restaurants and Cafes 


Adams, Rachel, Mrs.408 N. Main 

Ammons, Susie, Mrs.392 Beale 

Mrs' Ammons runs the most popular 
restaurant in the middle part of Mem¬ 
phis, and has such a large patronage 
that it taxes all of her resources to 
cater to their wants. She is an expert in 
the catering line. 

Beck, Mattie, Mrs.696 S. Main 

MRS. MATTIE BECK, j 

I Popular Restaurant. | 

? Good Meals. f 

Satisfactory Service. T 

| 696 S. Main St., Memphis, Tenn. | 

J.. 0 - 0 . 

Bess, Clydie, Miss.374 S. Second 

Booker, William.306 Poplar 

Boyd, Henry.363 Court 

Boyd, W. W.1286 Johnson 

Mr. Boyd is nicely located on Johnson 
avenue and has everything good to eat, 
such as lunches, candies, fruits and 
drinks. 

Brewer, Lillie, Mrs., & Overall, W. H. 
75 McCall. 

... 

f Popular Prices.Quick Service. ? 

I Meet me at the Cozy Little ? 

i ELITE CAFE, i 

f Mrs. Lillie Brewer and f 

| Wm. H. Overall, Proprietors. | 

• Up-to-date meals served at all $ 

f hours. Short orders a specialty, f 
l Sandwiches of all kinds. Open | 

• from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. | 

| Give Us a Call. f 

i 75 McCall Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 1 


Cook, S. A., Mrs.772 S. Main 

\ SOUTH MAIN RESTAURANT I 
| Meals at All Hours. | 

f Excellent Table Service. 

I Mrs. S. A. Cook—Proprietress. | 
i 772 S. Main St. Memphis, Tenn. i 
? • 

Edwards, Alice, Mrs.403 N. Main 

Ford, Anna, Mrs.221 Commerce 

Gregory, Simpson C.107 S. 4th 

Hicks, E. D.382 S. 2nd 

•g. 

f HICKS’ CAFE. I 

l First Class Table Service, 

i Meals at All Hours. 1 

f Ice Cream, Soda Water, Cigars ? 
; and Tobacco. Furnished Rooms ; 

1 for Rent. 1 

f Your Patronage Solicited. i 

| 382 S. Second St. ? 

j Memphis, Tenn. • 

• • 

Hughes, Lucy, Miss.273 N. Main 

THE CLIMAX CAFE 

| and ice cream parlor. | 

• Hot and Cold Lunches at All * 

2 Hours. f 

| Also Nice, Clean Rooms. 1 

f Miss Lucy Hughes, Proprietress. • 
I 273 N. Main St. | 

• Memphis, Tenn. f 




















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


269 



MISS LUCY HUGHES 


Hulsey, George.297 Jefferson 

Moore, Daisy.364 S. 2nd 

Moore, L. C.293y 2 Poplar 


■ 

i 


L. C. MOORE, 
Famous ’Bridge Restaurant. 
High Class Table Service. 


Ice Cream Soda and Lunches. 
Your Patronage Solicited. 
293 1 / 2 Poplar. 
Memphis, Tenn. 


Pope, Lucy, Mrs.124 S. 4th 

Savage & Sturdervant. .. .697 S. Orleans 

Sylvers, Jerry.116 S. 2nd 

Sylvester, Nellie, Mrs.545 Miss 

Turner, Wyeth.Auction and 3rd 


Sawyers and Re-Sawyers 


Allison, John W.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Banks, John..E. T. Bennett Lumber Co. 

Boone, Samuel.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Britt, H.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Cartwright, John... .Anderson-Tully Co. 

Cody, John W.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Cornelius, E.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Crosby, J.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Dines, Lump J.Moore & McFerren 

Gousby, Elgin.Moore & McFerren 

Harris, W.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Harvey, T.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Moody, A. B.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Petty, James.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Pointer, Andrew. .E. T. Bennett Lumber 
Co. 


Preston, Chas.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Pruitt, Eli.E. G. Willingham 

Reece, J. A.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Roberson, Sidney.... Anderson-Tully Co. 

Sawyer, John.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Shannon, Chas. E...Anderson Tully Co. 
Shivers, Elias..E. T. Bennett Lumber 
Co. 

Smith, D.E. T. Bennett Lumber Co. 

Snowden, W.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Swift, Westley.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Walker, Richard.... Anderson-Tully Co. 
Yates, J.Anderson-Tully Co. 











































270 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


School Janitors 


Coleman, C. W.Greenwood School 

Cottrell, Wm.Klondyke School 

Fleming, Henry.Grant School 

Franklin, Allen.Lemoyne School 

Mr. Franklin is a good janitor and a 
good citizen and has had long experience 
in his work. He is a good all-around 
workman. 

Freeman, Robert-Carnes Ave. School 

Mr. Freeman is one of our best citi¬ 
zens and one of our best janitors. He is 
an intelligent and upright gentleman and 
enjoys general respect and confidence. 
He has a nice home on Jefferson avenue 
and an interesting family. 

McNeal, James.Kortrecht School 

Mr. McNeal is one of the best quali¬ 
fied janitors connected with the city 
school system. He is a sort of all- 
around mechanic and has the ability to 
master almost anything that may hap¬ 
pen on the school premises. 

Stigall, Wm.Va. Ave. School 

Strong, Price 0.Higbee 

Thomas, Jas.Larose St. School 


Mr. Thomas is one of our oldest and 
most efficient janitors and his ability is 
a matter of satisfaction to the powers 
that be. He is a very pleasant gentle¬ 
man. 

Wheatly, John.Porter School 

Mr. Wheatly is one of the best known 
men in Memphis. For many years he 
was an expert mechanic connected with 
the lumber industry in Memphis, but 
for several years he has been the effi¬ 
cient janitor of the Porter school and 
has given complete satisfaction. He 
was one of the original members of the 
Independent Pole Bearers’ Association 
and has always held an honorable place 
in the councils of this society, and 
through his kindness the author was able 
to get much interesting and valuable in¬ 
formation concerning the above-named 
organization. He is a well read, sensi¬ 
ble man and a credit to the colored race. 
No man is more pleasant and agreeable 
and no one more deserves success than 
he. 


Shoe Makers 


Adkins, J. D...431 N. Main 

Bennett, E. B..954 Carnes 

Mr. Bennett is an all-round genius, and 
it is impossible to lose him. He is a 
competent surgeon on old shoes and 
can patch them up to perfection. 

Britt, H.1642 Lamar 

Coldwell, Marion.193 Decatur 

Chambers, Samuel T.. 224 Jackson 

Cole, Walter.759 Pa. 

Cole, Wm.,...310 N. Main 

Covington, J.382 N. Dunlap 

Davenport, J. J.348 N. Second 

Mr. Davenport is a shoemaker of ex¬ 
perience as may be seen by the character 
of his work. 


Foster, Jesse,.250 Union 

Fox, Thos.Vassar 

Garrett, Walker P.728 Beale 

Granberry, S. L.906 Hawley 

Glenn, Edward.497 N. Third 

Gray, Charles.754 Lane 

Greer, S. W.208 Jackson 

Hampton, J. P.310 N. Main 

Harper. C.662 S. Orleans 

Mr. Harper attends both to the sole 
of the feet and the soul of the body. He 
knows his duty in both cases, for he is 
a good man and a master shoemaker. 

Harper, Pleas.590 y 2 St. Paul 

Mr. Pleas Harper is a chip off the old 
block, and is one of the best young shoe- 

































THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


271 


makers in the state. He went through 
a thorough apprenticeship under his 
father, and knows the business complete¬ 
ly- 

Harper, Wm.725 Como 

Hooper, Bush.180 Jackson 

Hughes, Henry .588 S. Third 

Hutchins, T.767 Mississippi 

Jones, James.404 E. Butler 

Jones, S. W.606 Jackson 

Lee, E.Jones 

Mr. Lee is a native of Mississippi and 
attended school at Tougaloo University. 
He is an excellent shoe man and an ex¬ 
cellent Mason. He is a genial, kind and 
courteous gentleman with bright pros¬ 
pects and with a pleasant wife to make 
his home life happy. 

Martin, Wm.114 S. Second 

Mellinor, Henry C.161 E. Calhoun 

Millinder, H. C.766 Florida 

Moore, Edward.464 Monroe 

4 - 

• Hello! Your Shoes Need Half 
? Soles. 

i C. EDWARD MOORE, 

Practical Shoe Repairer. 

Shop 464 Monroe. 

All Work Neatly Done. 

Give Me a Call. ? 
Memphis, : : : Tenn. j 

Moore, John.836 E. Heiskell 

Paulett, Albert.259 Walnut 

Powell, Lawrence .807y 2 Poplar 

Randolph, T. L.206 Jackson 

Royster, George .412 E. Monroe 

Sales, Joseph .Polk 

Savage, Frederick, Sr...Zellner Shoe Co. 

Mr. Savage is the foreman of the 1 Zell- 
ner Shoe Co., the leading shoe company 
of Memphis, and has been connected 
with it for thirty or more years. He 
. is one of the most accomplished work¬ 
men that ever manipulated the awl and 
last, and is at the head of his trade. 
He is one of the best known citizens 
of Memphis and has always been promi¬ 
nently identified with its history, hav¬ 


ing at one time been a member of the 
City Board of Education. He is a par¬ 
liamentarian of experience and ability 
and is usually selected to preside in 
that capacity on all occasions. He is 
a wit and philosopher of sunshine, and 
is the most enjoyable companion that 
can be imagined. He is an honest, in¬ 
corruptible man and a model citizen. 
He is faithful and true, both in pros¬ 
perity and in adversity* and is the same 
to all men and at all times. He is the 
prince of good fellows and would be a 
good fellow among princes. In appear¬ 
ance Mr. Savage is striking. Age has 
but made his figure the more erect and 
statelier. He seems to have bathed in 
the fountain sought by Ponce De Leon. 
He does not look like an ordinary mod¬ 
ern man. He looks like one of those 
old barefooted philosophers that wan¬ 
dered around in Athens asking and an¬ 
swering questions. But he is not a 
human interrogation point. He is sim¬ 
ply a plain, honest, upright American 
citizen and one of the best men that 
ever cut a piece of leather. 

Stovall, C. H.271 Calhoun 

Swift, Sam .549 Mississippi 

Trigg, N. B.3581/2 Beale 

Mr. Trigg is a native of Memphis 
and one of its most favorably known 
citizens. He has had an experience of 
nearly fifty years in the shoe business 
and knows it perfectly. He is a man 
of great experience, the narration of 
which would be full of absorbing in¬ 
terest. No other citizen of Memphis 
can with greater interest and intelli¬ 
gence describe the events of his early 
days in the State of Tennessee. He is 
a pleasant, honorable, upright citizen 
and enjoys universal respect. He is a 
well read and intelligent man and al¬ 
ways interested in the advancement of 
his race. 

Triplett, R. L.231 S. Orleans 

Wallace, John .395 S. Howe 

Wallace, J. W.536 Mississippi 

Ware, Wm.236 Auction 

Webb, Wm.29 Charleston 

Williams, Wheatley .543 S. Fourth 

Wilson, John T.607 S. Wellington 

Yates, Wm.207 Decatur 





























272 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


Shoe Shining Parlors 


Barnett & Hurt ... 

Bland, Guy. 

Foster, Robert .... 
Keith, Edward 


R. State Nat’l. Bk. 
. . 547y 2 Mississippi 
.. Orleans and Polk 

.303 Vance 

Sawyer, E. 


Morgan, Hamson 
Patterson, F. H.. . 
Thomas, W. A. .. . 

Tressel, W. E. 

.193 S. Third 


.349 Beale 

.... 541 S. Third 
S. 2d and Monroe 
.314 Beale 


Shoe Stores 




The Colored Shoe Store 

John H. Grant, Propr. 

Fashionable and Up=to=Bate Footwear 

Right Class and Right Prices. 

Location on a popular avenue. 

Large Stock and Experienced 
Salesmen. Patronize an 
Enterprising Estab¬ 
lishment. 


154 Beale Ave., 


Memphis, Tenn. 






Stenographers 


Hobson, Lula, Miss.Howe Inst. 

Miss Hobson has for several years 
been connected with the commercial de¬ 
partment of Howe Institute in the ca¬ 
pacity of teacher of stenography and 
type writing and her efforts have been 
rewarded with splendid results. The 
classes that have graduated from her 


department are prepared to succeed in 
their line anywhere and many of them 
hold positions of trust and responsi¬ 
bility. 

Johnson, Beilina, Mrs.351 Beale 

Mrs. Johnson for several years has 
been connected in a clerical capacity 
with the M. L. Clay Co. 


Stewards 


Phillips, Geo. R.Lee Line Str. 

The highest testimonials of efficiency 
is his business have been brought to 
the author concerning Mr. Phillips, who 
has been connected for twenty-five years 
with this famous river packet company. 

Rice, Elijah .Gaston Hotel 

Mr. Rice is one of the best known 


citizens of Memphis. He has for many 
years been connected in various respon¬ 
sible capacities with the Gaston Hotel, 
and has worked himself up to the re¬ 
sponsible position of steward. He is 
prominently connected with the Ma¬ 
sonic fraternity and is one of the most 
lovable men in the community. 























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


273 


Stockkeepers 


Cohen, Richard .Zellner Shoe Co. 

Mr. Cohen has been honorably con¬ 
nected with this well-known shoe com¬ 
pany for nearly a generation and is 
one of its oldest and most valuable em¬ 
ployes. He is the genius that presides 
over the stock shelves and is complete 
master of his business. He is a highly 
intelligent, ambitious, hustling man and 
would not fail in anything requiring 
intelligent effort and push. 

Gwyn, Ben, Sr.Johnston & Vance 

Mr. Gwyn is the assistant stock- 
keeper of this well established clothing 
firm and has been connected with it for 
thirty-two years. He is one of the best 
known citizens of Memphis, having been 
identified with its business interests 
from a time the memory of man know- 
eth not to the contrary. He is a lover 
of education and intelligence and has 
given to all his family the advantages of 
the best educational training. 

Hayes, Samuel H.. .J. Goldsmith & Sons 

Mr. Hayes has the unique distinction 
of being stockkeeper connected with the 
clothing department of the largest de¬ 


partment store of Greater Memphis, and 
has performed his duties with intelli¬ 
gence and ability. He has had long ex¬ 
perience in his business and is one of 
the most valuable men in that capacity. 
He holds the most responsible position 
in some respects, held by any colored 
man in the city, and reflects great credit 
on his race. He is a good man in the 
fullest acceptation of the term and en¬ 
joys the respect and love of all his ac¬ 
quaintances and friends. A few more 
men like Mr. Hayes would show the 
colored people in a much better light 
before the world. 

Snipes, Wm.W. C. Early & Co. 

Mr. Snipes is an intelligent young 
man who has worked himself up step 
by step to a position of trust and re¬ 
sponsibility. 

Williams, D. C.Mem. Queensw. Co. 

Mr. Williams is an experienced and 
valuable man in his line of business. 
He is reliable and devoted to duty. He 
is a master of his business and an orna¬ 
ment to his race. 


Stone Cutters 


Hill, Samuel J.624 Polk Rutland, John.Axel Anderson 

Ross, Eugene .R. 623 E. Georgia Thomas, James .623 Polk 


Stove Repairers 


Hawkins, J. H. ..416 Monroe 

* J. H. HAWKINS, 

? Stove Repairing of All Kinds. 

| New Pipe, New Dampers and 
| Putting up Stoves. Buying and 
s Selling Second-hand Stoves a 
i Specialty. Satisfaction Guaran- 
f teed. 

I New Phone 3055. 

• 414 Monroe Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 


Love, James .Linden 

Thomas, Samuel .856 Moshy 

Ward, Isom.G. P. Frain & Co. 

Watson, Richard .771 Simmons 

We are well acquainted with Mr. 
Watson and know him to be an ex¬ 
perienced and competent workmen, and 
that any work intrusted to his care will 
receive prompt attention. 






















RESIDENCE OF J. T. SETTLE. 







THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


275 


Superintendents 


Gray, Nelson .Zion Cemetery 

Prather, Henry-Baron-Collier L. Co. 

Mr. Prather is connected with this 
great corporation, and enjoys a splendid 
reputation for efficiency in the perform¬ 
ance of his duties. He has a position 
of great trust and honor. 


Tailors 


i 


Coleman & Hutchins_210 S. Rayburn 

| “HAVE A FIT” ? 

i COLEMAN & HUTCHINS, 

The Up-to-Date Tailors. 

I Suits T 

• Made to | 

| Order that Fit. f 

| Cleaning, Dyeing, | 

• Repairing and Pressing. 

? New Phone 215. j 

I 210 Hadden Ave., Memphis, Tenn. | 

Conway & Nunley .346 Beale 

... | 


I 

I 

i 

• 

I 

i 


Go to See 
CONWAY & NUNLEY 
and Have Your Old Clothes Made 
New. Cleaning, Pressing, Dyeing 
and Repairing Done at Low 
Prices. Don’t wait, call today 
and see us. 


Love, G., Sr.663 Miss. 


*J**G**®**®' 


G. LOVE, SR., THE TAILOR. | 
Suits and Pants 
Made to Order. | 

Cleaning, Pressing and Repairing | 
Done on Short Notice. | 

Done Cleaning, J 

on Short Pressing 4 

Notice. and Repairing f 

Work Called For and Delivered. ] 
663 Miss. Blvd., Corner Ga. Ave. • 
Cumb. Phone 1401-A. T 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. • 


Harris, Mingo, Sr.113 Wellington 

! M. HARRIS, SR. f 

f Tailor and Draper. i 

« All Kinds of Chemical Cleaning, 4 

• Goods Shipped Anywhere. | 

l 113 Wellington St., MEMPHIS. | 

Mhoon, Jacob N.. .R. 379 S. Wellington 

Pease, Thomas.Mills & Averill Co. 

Quarterman, Thos.240 N. Main 

Thompson, W. H.394 Beale 

• W. H. THOMPSON, I 

I 349 Beale Ave. | 

f THE OLD RELIABLE TAILOR, 4 
l Now is the time to have your ? 
i Spring Overcoats and Spring Suits I 
? made like new. • 

I Suits Steam Cleaned, $1.50. | 

• Suits Steam Dyed, $2.50. 1 

T Suits sponged and Pressed, 50c. f 
1 Pants Pressed, 25c. | 

4 Skirts Steam Cleaned, $1.00-$1.50 i 
| Skirts Steam Dyed, $1.50 - $2.50 | 
i Skirts Sponged and Pressed, 75c | 
f Work Guaranteed. Goods Called 4 
I for and Delivered Free. 

Williams, J. W.Davitt & Moriarty 

Winston, Chas. R....Young the Tailor 

a .. a . 

l Long Distance Phone 371. 1 

i CHAS. R. WINSTON, Solicitor • 

For YOUNG the Tailor, T 

I 67 S. Main St. • 

• Your Patronage Solicited. f 

? i 


















276 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Theatres 


Church’s Auditorium.391 Beale 

This well-known place of amusement 
is the only one of its kind for colored 
people in the city of Memphis. It is 


one of the largest in the South, having 
a capacity of 2,000. It is provided with 
all modern theatrical conveniences, and 
compares favorably with the best thea¬ 
ters in the country. 


Tinners 


Nickerson, H. B.396 Allen 


I..*., a..*.. a..*.. a..*. 

& 
i 

H. B. NICKERSON, f 

The Up-to-Date Tinner. • 

The Only Colored Tinner in | 

Memphis. i 

f Contractor and General Repairer. Satisfactory Work. | 

| Prompt Attention. 396 Allen Place. MEMPHIS, i 

»?..«..a“C -a..a<.a. a-a"a"« -a-.a-.a'.a..a..a..a..a..a»a..a>.a..a..a»a..«..a..a..a..a..a..a..«..a..a..a..*..a..a>.a»a.fa..a..«..a..a~a-.a»«..*~«>»J< 


• Send for . . . 

i 

i 

I 


Undertakers 



SAMUEL CARSON 


Carson, Barnett & Co.93 S. Fourth 

•~«.a»a..a..a-.a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a..a~a..a..a..a.»p 

! CARSON, BARNETT & CO., I 
| Undertakers and | 

• Embalmers. f 

| Best Service. Reasonable Prices. ? 
| Liberal Terms. i 

? Open Day and Night. 

? Old Phone 2510 ; New Phone 2432 | 
i 93 S. Fourth St., Memphis, Tenn. • 

►•-.•a..a..a..a..a- 0 -a -a-.a- a .a..a»a.'a»a..a..a..a..a..t..a«a.*j4 

Mr. Carson is the senior partner and 
general manager of the Carson, Barnett 
& Co. undertaking firm. He is a native 
of Tennessee, and has resided in Mem¬ 
phis since he was four years old, and 
this fact ought to give to Mr. Carson a 
very substantial claim on the citizen¬ 
ship of Memphis. He received his edu¬ 
cational training at LeMoyne Institute 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


277 


and went forth from this institution 
into the busy struggles of life. At an 
early age he entered the service of the 
Frisco railroad in Memphis as file clerk 
and remained with this great railroad 
corporation for seven yeaj-s. At the 
expiration of this time he was trans¬ 
ferred to Fort Worth, Tex., where he 
was honored with the high position of 
general stationery clerk of all the Frisco 
lines in the State of Texas, and re¬ 
mained in this capacity for three years, 
making altogether ten years of hon¬ 
orable service in an exalted position 
with this great railroad company. If 
he had desired to remain he could have 
continued until now in the service of 
this company, for he was honored by 
it to an extent not conferred upon any 
other colored man. But Mr. Carson is 
a very ambitious man and had an as¬ 
piration to go even higher than the po¬ 
sition he filled with the railroad com¬ 
pany, consequently he resigned, came 
home and entered the real estate busi¬ 
ness in connection with Mr. H. A. Roy- 
non, of this city, and was successful 
from the very beginning. A little less 
than two years ago, still having an eye 
open for the main chance, he became 
connected with the present undertak¬ 
ing firm of Carson, Barnett & Co., and 
has contributed his time, talents and 
financial strength toward building up 
and fostering the business welfare of 
this company. His active co-operation 
and invaluable services have done much 
to make this new undertaking firm one 
of the most substantial and successful 
in Memphis. Mr. Carson has been a 
marvel of industry, of thrift and has 
some splendid property to show for his 
efforts. He has two good pieces of prop¬ 
erty on Simmons avenue and five lots 
on Orleans, extd. He is a successful 
young man and a bright future awaits 
him. Any man with his energy, self- 
confidence and push is bound to achieve 



THOS. H. HAYES 

i • 

: 

? 
? 


success. 


THOS. H. HAYES, 

| Undertaker and Embalmer. 

i Finest funeral cars of any col- I 
f ored undertaker in the South, f 
| Two expert embalmers. Open ? 

• day and night. • 

f Promptness and Courtesy. ? 
| PHONES: * 

• Memphis, 318; Cumb., 4261-A. £ 

f 308 Poplar Ave., opposite Mem- f 
i phis High School. | 

Hayes, Thos. H.308 Poplar 

Mr. Hayes is one of the leading col¬ 
ored undertakers of the whole South 
and is a worthy example of what may 
be accomplished by a man when he has 
found his real calling in life. For sev¬ 
eral years after entering business life 
Mr. Hayes was a struggling merchant 
in the grocery business in which he 
gained merely an existence. It was not 
until he entered the undertaking busi¬ 
ness that he began to succeed and pros¬ 
per financially. Every man must fit in 
his business environment in order to 
succeed and Mr. Hayes is a bright ex¬ 
ample of the place fitting the man and 
the man fitting the place. The under¬ 
taking business is different from most 
kinds of business among our people. 
In it the personality of the man himself 
is a very valuable asset. Mere cold 




278 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


business principles strictly adhered to 
will not confer success on one’s busi¬ 
ness efforts. In the undertaking busi¬ 
ness in order to be successful a man 
must have sympathy, kindness of heart, 
and real benevolence. These necessary 
qualities Mr. Hayes possesses in the su¬ 
perlative degree. He is probably the 
best liked and most popular citizen of 
Memphis and in financial circles he is 
one of the leading citizens of Memphis. 
In business he has prospered as no 
other colored citizen. His financial 
growth has been marvelous and a source 
of wonder to the whole community. 
Every one wishes him well and no one 
envies his extraordinary rise to position 
and power. He is vice-president of the 
Solvent Savings Bank, treasurer of the 
Reform School Association, treasurer of 
the Old Folks and Orphans’ Home and a 
mighty man in general. As he has pros¬ 
pered financially he has grown physic¬ 
ally until he has assumed the propor¬ 
tions of one of the great trust mag¬ 
nates in Wall street. He has a kind 
word and a warm grasp for everybody 
and would not do aught to harm a 
single soul. He has a charming family 
circle and idolizes each member of it. 

McCoy, Levy.157 S. Fourth 

• LEVY McCOY, 1 

| Funeral Director | 

i and Dealer in | 

? Metallic Caskets, Coffins, etc. ? 
| Free Ambulance Service Through- ? 

• out the city. | 

Owns His Own Cemetery. 

I Memphis Phone 395. .. * 

• 157 S. Fourth St., Memphis, Tenn. i 

• • 

No other citizen of Memphis is better 
or more favorably known than Mr. Levy 
McCoy. For years he was an efficient 
carrier in the Memphis postoffice de¬ 
partment, and since that time he has 
been identified with the business inter¬ 
ests of Memphis. For several years he 



LEVY McCOY 

has befen prominently connected with 
the undertaking business and has been 
very successful. There is no doubt of 
his being one of the best embalmers of 
modern times. He seems to have re¬ 
discovered the secret of the ancient 
Egyptians, whose embalming methods 
have been the wonder of all subsequent 
mankind. Many undertakers are not 
very skillful, but Mr. McCoy is a happy 
exception to this rule. In his estab¬ 
lishment may be seen the remains of 
a man in a state of perfect preservation, 
notwithstanding the fact that the man 
died several years ago. The remains of 
this man are on exhibition and may be 
seen at any time by those who wish. 
The author has taken advantage of this 
opportunity and is firmly convinced that 
Mr. McCoy, as an embalmer, is in a 
class by himself. He is a skillful taxi¬ 
dermist—that is, he has skillfully em¬ 
balmed and preserved many specimens 
of animals and has them on exhibition 
in his establishment. His methods of 
embalming seem to transform the re- 





THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


279 


mains into stone, and it is probable that 
Mr. McCoy can do exactly what the an¬ 
cient Egyptians could. He is an intel¬ 
ligent, wealthy citizen, and enjoys the 
respect and confidence of all classes. He 
has been industrious and has built for 
himself an enduring monument in the 
business world. We have written else¬ 
where concerning this worthy citizen. 

Scott & Wilkerson .362 Beale 


SCOTT & WILKERSON, 
Undertakers. 

First-class Carriages, Quick Am¬ 
bulance Service. 

Open Day and Night. 
PHONES: 

Office: New Phone 1492. 

Old Phone 4298. | 

Residence: New Phone 361. 

Old Phone 371. | 

362 Beale Ave., Memphis, Tenn. | 

• 



J. JAY SCOTT 


The undertaking firm of Scott & Wilk¬ 
erson is one of the most enterprising 
and progressive firms in the South and 
their phenomenal success in the few 
years of their business experience has 
excited the admiration and wonder of 
the people of Memphis. Their ambition 
has been to give to their patrons the 
best equipment and service and the 
most reasonable terms. Their operations 
are based upon the most liberal and con¬ 
servative business principles and the ac¬ 


commodations that they are unable to 
give their patrons cannot be given by 
any other undertaking firm in Memphis. 

The senior member of this firm in 
point of age is Rev. J. Jay Scott. He is 
a graduate of the collegiate department 
of Fisk University and a gentleman of 
unusual ability. He has brought to this 
firm ability, experience, thorough train¬ 
ing, good judgment and the prestige of 
success in other fields of usefulness. He 
has great power of organization and has 
thorough knowledge of business prin¬ 
ciples. With him to guard the destinies 
of this firm it is not at all surprising 
that it has achieved such great success 
in the few years of its existence. Mr. 
Scott is one of the most substantial 
citizens of Memphis and enjoys univer¬ 
sal confidence and esteem. 



WAYMAN WILKERSON 

Mr. Wilkerson is a business man of 
experience and brings to this firm un¬ 
tiring energy, splendid judgment and 
fine ability. He is the fifth wheel 
around which the success of this estab¬ 
lishment turns. He is of Northern ex¬ 
traction and brings to his business all 
of the hustling and energetic qualities 
of the progressive Northern man. He 
is a man of rare intelligence and in¬ 
dustry and has done his share toward 
making his firm one of the leading un¬ 
dertaking firms of the South. 






280 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Weavers 


Ballard, Haywood.Mem. Rug Co. Smith, Joseph W.Mem. Rug Co. 

Smith, Leon.Mem. Rug Co. 


Wood Machinists 


Cooper, Alex. T. .. . Anderson-Tully Co. 
Dailey, Walter. Broom, Hoe & Handle 
Factory. 

Daniels, George... .G. 0. Friedel Lbr Co. 

Mr. Daniels is a wonder along me¬ 
chanical lines. He is a machinist in 
every application of the term, and, so 
far as the author knows and believes, 
he has not a superior in Memphis. He 
is an experienced and able millwright 
and this fact is conclusive evidence of 
his practical knowledge of machinery. 
Not only is he one of the leading me¬ 
chanics of the South, but he is one of 
the leading citizens of Memphis. He is 
a patron of education and has given his 
children every educational advantage. 
Dixon, Wm... .James & Graham W. Co. 
Donaldson, Gilbert..G. 0. Friedel Lum¬ 
ber Co. 

Dortch, Richard. .. . G. 0. Friedel Lum¬ 
ber Co. 

Graham, George .615 Woodward 

Griffin, David .Annesdale Lbr. Co. 

Hayes, Samuel ....Anderson-Tully Co. 
Hoskins, Z. W. . . .G. 0. Friedel Lbr Co. 

Jones, R.James & Graham W. Co. 

Mann, Jonas.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Martin, James S.G. 0. Friedel Lum¬ 

ber Co. 


Mahoney, Napoleon. .Dixie Lumber Co. 

Rhodes, James.Gov’t Boat 

Smith, Jesse .Frisco 

Tyler, Leonard.Bennett Lbr Co. 

Mr. Tyler has a first-class knowledge 
of machinery and properly comes under 
the head of engineers in this book. We 
had the pleasure of meeting him and 
were profoundly impressed with his 
ability as a mechanic. He is a valuable 
employe of the Bennett Lumber Co., 
and his fellow workmen never tire in 
speaking of his splendid ability. 

Wallace, Amos, Jr.729 Simmons 

Weaver, Joe.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Weaver, John.Anderson-Tully Co. 

Wesson, Shelton. Court House 

White, Thomas.Darnell Lumber Co. 

Wilkins, John J., Cole Manufacturing Co. 

Mr. Wilkins has served in his present 
capacity for 17 years and is the only 
colored machinist employed by this com¬ 
pany. It is a great compliment to Mr. 
Wilkins that his ability has been of 

such a character as to merit retention 
in the service of this company for such 
a long period of time. 

Winfield, Lorin.Frisco R. R. 





















THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


281 


ADDENDA 


E. R. Bynum.440 S. Main Will Tillman, Bricklayer... 1272 Saxon 

J. T. Waller.143 Brinkley 

• • 

• E. R. BYNUM, i 

a A first-class new carriage for | | J. T. WALLER, I 

T occasions day or night. f f Brick Contractor and Cement f 

• Memphis Phone 1845. ? ? Worker. I 

? Stand, Union Depot, Memphis. • i All work promptly attended to. • 

i New Phone 2323. * 

J. C. Cosby.375 Monroe f 143 Brinkle ^ Ave (Decatur Ave.). | 

| Special attention given to Driving ! Andy Wilson, Barber... 1269 McLemore 

| Horses. ! Mr. Wilson was formerly a resident 

f Vid0US Ani ”^ S ^ Ped ^ 0Wl1 ' t ^ LiUle R0Ck > Alk > bUt haS re8ided 

I KENTUCKY CLIPPING CLUB, ? in Memphis for the past ten years. His 

l Horse and Mule Clipping. | people in Little Rock are prominently 

• J. C. COSBY, f connected with the social life of that 

| Cor. Monroe and Wellington Sts. * city and are the be3t type of good cit . 

i Memphis, Tenn. i . ,, & . 

| i lzenship. Mr. Wilson is an ambitious 

.♦..•-•..•-•-•-•..•-•..J. young man. He has struggled to rear 

J. W. Fair.195 Elliott an honorable family and has succeeded 

splendidly in his efforts. He has three 

a J. W. FAIR, ? daughters around whose lives he has 

I First-class carriage for all oc- i placed every safeguard, the eldest of 

? casions day or night. Stand, ? whom is a member of the graduating 

; Union Tcnn . T class of Le Moyne Normal Institute. 

i • Mr. Wilson has an elegant home on Mc- 

4m # .. # ..«.. # .. c ..«.Lemore avenue in the center of a very 

W L -J° nes .1077 Kimbrough fashionable scction of the city . H is 

■ . t . . • ....... . . . . • • • 4 wife is a refined and cultured woman 

; W. L. Jones,. ? and is unceasing in her efforts to pro- 

| Carpet layer, cleaner and maker, i mote the interests of her husband and 

| All work guaranteed satisfactory. | family Mr. W ii son is one of the lead- 

• * 1 ing barbers on the Lee Line steamboats 

• 2504M, Cumb. Phone. ? ° . , , . .. , . , 

1077 Kimbrough St., ? and 1S -esteemed highly as a good neigh- 

I Memphis, Tenn. • bor and a good citizen. 

J* G. Boyd.418 S. Lauderdale 

Thomas Riley.768 Michigan ,j.. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a .. a ..*.. a .. a .. a .. a ..*.. a ..*.. a .. a ..*.,|« 

. . a J. G. BOYD, • 

a THOMAS RILEY, if Furniture Repairer - 

‘ House Painting, Roof Repairing • ? and Upholsterer, 

and General Contractor. | • Satisfaction Guaranteed. 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. ; ? Work called for and delivered. 

768 Michigan Ave. • | 418 S. Lauderdale St., 

• Memphis, : : •* Tenn. | j Memphis, : : •: Tenn. 

.•..•••••••••••••••••••••••-I- 














RESIDENCE OF LAWYER B. F. BOOTH. 




























THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


283 


Mr. Boyd for years has been one of 
the most skilled artisans in his line. 
He is probably the most experienced 
and most skillful workman in the city. 
He is a sort of all-round mechanical 
genius a-nd seldom meets a proposition 
too difficult for his understanding. He 
is one of the best known citizens of 
Memphis, and has been prominently 
identified with the city’s growth for 
many years. He has always been a 
leader in church and fraternity work and 
in both he has gained great honor. He 
is a veteran of the Civil War and a 
man who did his part to maintain the 
integrity and honor of the nation. 

Lymus Wallace.613 S. Lauderdale 

Mr. Wallace is universally known and 
esteemed as one of the leading citizens 
of Memphis and so long has this been 
the case that the memory of man know- 
eth not to the contrary. He has always 
led an active, enterprising business life 
and for years has been one of the lead¬ 
ing contracting dray owners of Mem¬ 
phis. In his prime he was a marvel of 
business activity and shrewdness, and 
did much to demonstrate the business 
capacity of his race. 

Not only has he always been prom¬ 
inent in business circles but he has 
been prominent in the political life of 
Memphis. For some time he served as 
a member of the City Council of Mem¬ 
phis, and in this capacity he did much 
to promote the welfare of the city. He 
is a man of prudence and sound judg¬ 
ment in all matters and has always 
been noted for his conservative action. 
He is a patron of education and has 
graduated all of his children who are old 
enough to receive such an honor. One 
of his daughters is a teacher in the pub¬ 
lic schools of this city and another 
daughter is happily married to a worthy 
and prominent citizen of the state of 
Mississippi. Mr. Wallace’s success has 
been largely due to the devotion and 
energy of his wife, who in season and 
out of season has ministered to his com¬ 
fort and welfare. 


N. L. EDWARDS. 

No other man in Shelby County is 
better known than Squire Edwards. He 
has been connected with the official and 
political life of Shelby County for over 
a generation and in this capacity he is 
more conspicuous than any other col¬ 
ored citizen. His official life began 
early. He served as constable for six 
years, and was one of the first colored 
men in Shelby County to make an of¬ 
ficial bond. He served as magistrate 
and notary public in this county for 
eighteen years and during this time he 
accomplished much good for his race in 
discussing its interests in the sessions 
of the County Court. 

Mr. Edwards is a farmer rather than 
a politician, if he were left to his own 
inclinations. He is one of the leading 
farmers of Shelby County. The farm¬ 
er’s life appeals to him as no other life. 
He knows this life in every detail and 
has been very successful in it at all 
times. Every phase of farming life 
is carried on by him. He rents land to 
tenants; he lets out land to share farm¬ 
ers; he hires laborers to till the land. 
He has had in cultivation at one time 
a thousand acres of land, and has pro¬ 
duced in one year 250 bales of cotton. 
He owns .a farm of 100 acres near White 
Haven, Tenn., and one of 90 acres in 
De Soto County, Mississippi. On his 
farm he lives like one of the great 
barons of mediaeval times. His home 
is noted for its hospitality. He is one 
of our wealthiest farmers and his prop¬ 
erty interests are estimated to the 
value of $20,000. He is a sagacious, 
well-balanced man with an eye always 
open to the race’s welfare. 

PHILIP NICHOLSON, SR. 

For over 35 years the leading truck 
farmer of Shelby County has been Mr. 
Philip Nicholson. He is the one col¬ 
ored truck farmer that has successfully 
contested supremacy with the all-con¬ 
quering Italian, who seems to flourish 



284 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OP MEMPHIS. 


like a green bay tree in everything per¬ 
taining to the cultivation of the soil. 
Truck farmers may come and truck 
farmers may go, but Mr. Nicholson 
seems to hold on forever. He seems to 
enjoy perpetual youth. Forty years of 
active life have not diminished the elas¬ 
ticity of his step or the buoyancy of 
his hope and he is a shining example of 
the benefits of an active, out-door life. 

He has obeyed the biblical injunction 
to multiply and replenish the earth and 
these carping criticisms on race suicide 
will never apply to him. He has one 
of the largest and most interesting fam¬ 
ilies in this section of the state. He 
has given all of them the advantages 
of a good education and each one is well 
using the opportunities so fortunately 
given. One of the children, Mr. Philip 
Nicholson, Jr., seems to like a farmer’s 
life. He is a chip off the old block. He 
is a model of quietness, steadiness and 
modesty and a young man of fine parts. 
Two of the young men are practicing 
dentists of this city. They have well 
equipped offices and are succeeding 
splendidly. Most of the girls are grad¬ 
uates of Le Moyne Normal Institute 
and are either serving or ambitious to 
serve in some useful capacity. The eld¬ 
est daughter is the talented and estima¬ 
ble wife of one of Bishop Lane’s sons 
and the next oldest daughter, Miss An¬ 
gie, is a teacher of experience and abil¬ 
ity. All the girls have been given the 
benefit of a musical education and they 
are very prominently connected with this 
most useful art. 

Mr. Nicholson, Sr., is one of the 
wealthiest colored men in Shelby Coun¬ 
ty. He has used his opportunities 
wisely and has distanced in the race of 
life most of the others who started out 
with him in the early days. He is a 
good citizen, a kind father and a gentle¬ 
man that enjoys universal confidence and 
esteem. 


BENJAMIN J. JOHNSON. 

One of the wealthiest, shrewdest and 
most successful business men of Mem¬ 
phis is Mr. Benjamin Johnson. The 
story of his successful life has the charm 
of romance and his great success is but 
the well-merited consequence of his un¬ 
tiring industry, perseverance, business 
prudence and thrift. Early in life he 
realized the importance of looking after 
the nickels and the dimes and he has un¬ 
til this day undeviatingly followed this 
principle. In this particular respect his 
life is in marked contrast to that of 
most of our race who seem to regard 
the small coins as money merely to be 
thrown away. It is a well-known fact 
that economy is a stepping-stone to 
financial independence, and that those 
of our race who are wealthy are thus 
blessed because they did not overlook 
the importance of the small things in 
life. * 

For many years Mr. Johnson resided 
in the state of Mississippi, where he 
still has vast property interests. He 
is one of the wealthiest colored plant¬ 
ers in the state and carries on farming 
on a large scale. He has some of the 
most valuable land in the delta sec¬ 
tion of that state. While his farming 
land is mainly in Mississippi his resi¬ 
dence is in this city, where his real es¬ 
tate possessions are very great. He is 
commonly reputed to be one of the 
wealthiest colored men in Memphis. 
From a popular standpoint it would take 
six figures to do full justice to his great 
wealth. He has splendid property all 
over Memphis, and his name is a power 
in financial circles. 

No colored man stands higher in pub¬ 
lic confidence and esteem than he. He 
is a man endowed with all the cardinal 
virtues and is a thoroughly representa¬ 
tive citizen. He has an interesting fam¬ 
ily, one of his daughters being the es¬ 
timable wife of that progressive and: 
public-spirited citizen, Mr. Edward Joy¬ 
ner. 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


285 


REV. J. K. DANIELS. 

No other minister of the gospel in 
Memphis has a firmer hold on the af¬ 
fections of the people in general than 
Rev. J. K. Daniels. He is one of the 
pioneers in his branch of the great Chris¬ 
tian Church, and has devoted the best 
years of his long and useful life to the 
cause of the world’s salvation. Many 
years ago he was pastor of Collins 
Chapel C. M. E. Church and did great 
work for this historic old church. Not¬ 
withstanding the fact that his labors 
have been elsewhere for some time he 
has made his home in Memphis. In his 
long life of service and usefulness he 
has not overlooked the preparation for 
the rainy day. He has always had 
sound business judgment and has more 
to show for his labors than the average 
minister of the gospel. In this city 
he has four houses which bring him a 
handsome income. His early foresight 
has been blessed with substantial results 
and now, in the evening of life, he can 
enjoy the same. He has always been a 
thorough race-loving man and has been 
unceasing in his efforts for the uplift 
of the race. 

W. H. WILLIAMSON. 

For nearly twenty years the subject 
of this sketch has been connected with 
the well-known drug firm of J. S. Rob¬ 
inson of this city, and it is seldom the 
case that any one has reposed in him¬ 
self such trust as is reposed in Mr. Wil¬ 
liamson. In his long experience with 
this drug company he has gained a 
knowledge of compounding drugs and 
of chemistry in general and it is prob¬ 
able that very few men, unless they 
are graduates in pharmacy, have such 
a knowledge of drugs in general. 

He is a progressive citizen and a pro¬ 
moter of everything that is worthy. He 
has given to his children splendid educa¬ 
tional edvantages so that they may be 
able to look after their own welfare, 
and in doing this he has been ably as¬ 
sisted by his devoted wife. 


MRS. ROSA GOLDSBY. 

It gives the author great pleasure to 
express on the pages of this book some 
appreciation of the great services that 
the subject of this sketch has rendered 
to this community. It is best that peo¬ 
ple should receive some token of appre¬ 
ciation while they are living rather 
than after they are dead. 

In many respects the author considers 
her to be one of the most serviceable 
women in Memphis. She is indefatiga¬ 
ble in whatever she attempts. She is 
identified with every movement tending 
to benefit the race. No night is too 
dark nor day too hot for her to go on 
a mission of philanthropy or charity. 
She is a woman of abounding sympathy 
and is never so satisfied as when en¬ 
gaged in doing some good for others. 

She is a veteran in the teachers’ pro¬ 
fession, her term of service running 
back to a time when the memory of 
man knoweth not. During all these 
years of activity in the school room 
she has preserved the same equanimity, 
the same ambition to do good, and the 
same personal appearance. She looks 
not a day older than she did in the year 
of imphty-umphty. She is the best 
known woman in Memphis, and one of 
the most popular. Nature in all of its 
power and variety has produced only one 
person like her, and that is •— herself. 
She seems to have bequeathed to her 
two daughters her teaching spirit and 
ability, for they are both, like their 
mother, engaged in the profession of 
teaching. The author would like to 
state that Mrs. Goldsby is considered 
by her friends as really a part of Mem¬ 
phis; but in the author’s humble judg¬ 
ment she seems to be the whole of 
Memphis, so thoroughly identified is she 
with every worthy movement in it. 

N. B. Williamson.448 E. Georgia 

I N. B. WILLIAMSON, 

| Tonsorial Parlor. ! 

| Everything Up-to-Date. i 

f 448 E. Georgia, Memphis. | 



286 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


Wm. DAVIDSON.Beale and Second 


• • 

} WILLIAM DAVIDSON, | 

| Expressman. | 

• • 

£ Stand, Beale and Second Sts. £ 

| Phone, Memphis 707. | 

| Memphis, : : : Tenn. I 

W. D. Harper.738 Stephens 

* 

f W. D. HARPER, 

! House Mover and Raiser, 

i 

• Oldest in the City, 

T Estimates Given. 

| 738 Stephens PL, Memphis. | 

• 4 

A. Spencer.Beale and Hernando 


1 


A. Spencer, 

Hack Owner. 

: 

Residence, 233 S. Fourth St. • 
Stand, Beale and Hernando. 

i • 

i Memphis, : : : Tenn. i? 


FINLEY CROSS. 


Mr. Cross is one of our best known 
and most prominent citizens. For years 
he has been one of the leading contrac¬ 
tors engaged in hauling. His business 
has been so large that a great deal of 
capital was needed to meet its demands. 
He has prospered in his business and 
has large real estate possessions to show 
for his enterprise and industry. He is 
a congenial and affable gentleman who 
prefers peace and the good will of all 
men. He has a very desirable home on 
Kimbrough street and an estimable com¬ 
panion to share his sorrows and his joys. 


MANUFACTURING CO. 

l HAYES-PATTON MFG. CO. 

| Authorized Capital $2,000,000. 
i Incorporated under the laws of ,, 
f South Dakota, 

: Manufacturers of Automobiles ] J 

• and Other Vehicles. <> 

f New Invention 

I —By— 

£ J. T. Johnson. 

Patented in 17 countries, 
i Patents pending in 11 countries. | 

• INCORPORATORS -:- 

| J. T. Settle, L. C. Moore, " 

i T. H. Hayes, R. E. Johnson, " 

4 H. C. Tate, L. L. Stephens, " 

? M. L. Clay. V 

• For information see any of the , 

| aboved named gentlemen. 

A Randolph.354 S. Humphreys 

A. RANDOLPH, j 

| Contractor and Builder. | 

f Phone, Memphis 2023. £ 

| 354 S. Humphreys St., | 

• Memphis, : : : Tenn. 1 

4 4 

Very few young men of our race have 
come to the front as rapidly as Mr. 
Randolph. Not only has he become one 
of our leading contractors and build¬ 
ers, but he has become strong in a ma¬ 
terial way. He owns some of the choic¬ 
est property in Forest City, Ark.; this 
property is rented out and brings him 
a handsome income. All of his cottages 
are constructed in the most modern style 
and they add much to the attractive¬ 
ness of that growing little town. He 
has every inspiration to succeed in life, 
for he is blessed with the companion¬ 
ship of a dear wife who has an eye 
single to his welfare. 

H. B. Andrews.Memphis Auto Co. 

The subject of this sketch is one of 
the best known citizens of Memphis. 
He is a man of unusual intelligence and 
among his friends is noted for his bub¬ 
bling humor, sparkling wit and apt 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


287 


repartee. He is one of the “Old Guard” 
in the social world when Memphis was 
in her zenith. For years he was cap¬ 
tain of the famous Tennessee Rifles— 
a crack military company of the 80’s, 
and showed a knowledge of military tac¬ 
tics that would do credit to a veteran 
soldier. He has had considerable ex¬ 
perience in literary work and is a good 
writer. His articles sparkle with epi¬ 
grams and witticisms. The fact is, there 
is a general belief among his friends 
that he has kissed the Blarney stone. 
In late years Captain Andrews has been 
engaged in some form or other of elec¬ 
trical work, and is to some extent an 
authority in his line. He is an ideal 
son and the joy of his mother’s life. 
John White, Jr.862 Lauderdale 

| JOHN WHITE, | 

| Express and Baggage. | 

? Furniture and pianos moved with f 

• care. | 

l Residence, 862 Lauderdale St., | 

• Memphis, Tenn. I 

• • 

Mr. White holds an exalted place in 
the esteem and confidence of the peo¬ 
ple of Memphis. He is one of the city’s 
best known and oldest citizens and his 
life has been one of great credit and 
usefulness to his race. He has been ac¬ 
tively engaged in Sunday school and 
church work for many years, and in 
this capacity he has done untold good. 
He is not exactly white in complexion, 
but in character his name is perfectly 
appropriate. He is a highly intelligent 
man and gives a practical demonstra¬ 
tion of this fact by giving his children 
the best educational advantages that the 
city of Memphis affords. Two of his 
children, Miss Violet and Mr. John 
White, are graduates of Kortrecht High 
School, and the others are attending the 
local schools. Mr. White is a musician 
of experience and ability and in the 


days gone by when musicians were 
scarcer than now did much to enlighten 
the people of Memphis along musical 
lines. He is a big man physically and 
mentally and a credit to the community 
and his race. 

G. W. Cooper.232 Turley 

The subject of this sketch has been 
identified with the city of Memphis 
since the days succeeding the Civil War, 
of which he is a veteran soldier. No man 
stands higher as an upright, honest and 
representative citizen. He is a man 
fearless and uncompromising in the 
right. In the heat of action he asks no 
quarter and gives none. He is a man 
of decided opinions and can be found 
either on one side or the other of every 
contention involving the general welfare. 

e does not straddle the fence, the world 
knows where he stands. He is one of 
the pillars of his church and is ever 
alert to its interests. For years he has 
»been one of the leading contracting 
haulers of lumber, and is still actively 
engaged in the same. The infirmities of 
age have not dimmed his eyesight nor 
dulled his mental powers, and like the 
war horse of old he still champs his 
bits and paws in the valley. Mr. Cooper 
is a good citizen. He has taken pride 
in trying to be one of the best citizens 
of Memphis. His motto is “The Best 
or Nothing,” and he has lived up to this 
motto. 

Samuel Williams.431 Beale 


SAMUEL WILLIAMS, 
Pressing Club. 

Clothes cleaned, pressed, dyed 
and repaired at popular prices. 
Ladies’ garments a specialty. All 
work guaranteed. We call for 
and deliver free. 


i 


431 Beale Ave., Memphis. 







288 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


J. W. Nightingale_380 S. Wellington 

t HE MODEL PRESSING PARLOR, | 

| Artistic Tailoring and Repairing, | 
| Steam Cleaners and Dyers. ? 

Work called for and delivered, i 
1 All work guaranteed. Ask us ? 
| about joining the club. | 

s 380 S. Wellington St., i 

Old Phone 1427 Main. | 
f J. W. NIGHTINGALE, Mgr. 

Frank Wooten.765*72 Miss. 


FRANK WOOTEN, 




Tonsorial Parlor, 

Shaving, Shampooing and Hair 
Cutting. Razors Sharpened With 
Care. 

Call. 

765*4 Miss. Blvd., Memphis. 




Noble M. Peebles.. Georgia and Orleans 


! 


? 
: 
i 


NOBLE M. PEEBLES, 
Grocery and Kansas City Meats. 

Your Patronage Solicited. 
Corner of Georgia and Orleans, 
Memphis. 






W. H. F. Brown.113 S. Lauderdale 


Mr. Brown has the reputation of be¬ 
ing one of the most skilled and artistic 
brick masons in Memphis. His friends, 
whose name is legion, are sure that no 
other workman in his line can surpass 
him. We are sure that Mr. Biown is 
a fiist-class mechanic just as his friends 
say. No man whose moustache has such 
an artistic curl can possibly be other¬ 
wise than an artistic workman. Mr. 
Brown is all right both as a workman 
and a good citizen, and we commend him 
to the patronage of all who desire first- 
class work. 


A. M. E. ZION CHURCH. 

Ford’s Chapel.Horn Lake Road 

Rev. E. B. Cobb.Pastor 

Residence, Horn Lake Road. 

Home, Batesville, Miss. 

Membership . 100 

Valuation of church property... .$2,000 

Sunday School membership. 30 

Sunday School officers & teachers 5 
Sunday School Supt., J. W. McGill. 

REV. E. B. COBB. 

The worthy minister looking after the 
spiritual welfare of the members of 
Ford’s Chapel was born in the state of 
Mississippi, a fact for which he is no 
doubt thankful, inasmuch as he has so 
many distinguished and eminent divines 
that have the same nativity. He taught 
school for two years in Tate County 
before entering the ministry in 1894. 
So anxious has he been to prepare him¬ 
self thoroughly for the ministry that 
he has taken a theological course by 
correspondence. We live in an up-to- 
date age, and if circumstances prevent 
our going off to college we can simply 
have the college come to us through the 
medium of correspondence. Such is the 
experience of Rev. Cobb, who has dili¬ 
gent!) and carefully applied himself to 
the study of the Holy Word with grati¬ 
fying results. He is doing a great work 
at Ford’s Chapel and his efforts have 
been blessed with fruitful results. He 
is an earnest, faithful, tireless worker 
in the Master’s vineyard, and is doing 
much to further the cause of his branch 
of the Christian Church and the gen¬ 
eral cause of salvation of mankind. 

A. M. E. Zion Presiding Elder. 

Rev. A. P. Petty.Mempis District 

This well-known and able divine first 
opened his eyes in the state of Alabama.. 
He has been engaged in ministerial 
work for eighteen years, or since 1890. 
His theological training has been ob¬ 
tained largely by correspondence and by 
systematic self application. Gifted 














THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


289 


with the power of understanding to a 
degree beyond the ordinary, he has been 
able to build up a solid and substantial 
scholarship. He has been a presiding 
elder for ten years and has presided over 
three districts—the Batesvile district 
for four years, the Coffeeville district 
for three years and the Memphis dis¬ 
trict for three years. The Princeton 
University has conferred upon him the 
honorary degree of doctor of divinity. 
No other presiding elder stands higher 
than he in the councils of the A. M. E. 
Zion Church. He is a pleasant and af¬ 
fable gentleman and a sincere Christian 
worker. He is striving to do his whole 
duty in furthering the cause of Christian 
service and usefulness. 



S. A. Martin.634 Polk 


Mr. Martin is an enterprising busi¬ 
ness man and counts that day lost on 
which he has not succeeded in accom¬ 
plishing something substantial in his 
line. He is a hustler from Hustlersville, 
and when he goes after a business prop¬ 


osition there is something going to hap¬ 
pen. Not only is he active in business, 
but he is also active in church and 
Sunday school work. He is a good cit¬ 
izen and zealous in every worthy cause. 
He is pious without cant, earnest with¬ 
out affectation, and honest without dis¬ 
simulation. 






See 

S. A. MARTIN 


For artistic, durable and cor¬ 
rect clothing^ Every variety of 
Men’s Suits, Pants and Overcoats, 
Ladies’ Suits, Skirts and Jackets. 
Latest Styles; high-class work. 
Your Patronage Solicited. 

S. A. Martin, Sole Agent, 

634 Polk Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 







H. C. Shepherd.435 Beale 

The Lone Star State has the honor of 
giving to Memphis one of its most en¬ 
terprising and useful citizens in the per¬ 
son of Mr. H. C. Shepherd, the general 
secretary of the Zion Cemetery Co. and 
the United Sons of Zion. He is a young 













292 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


specimen of physical and intellectual 
manhood. He is thoroughly up to date 
and possesses all the attributes that go 
to make up a well-balanced and accom¬ 
plished gentleman. He has come South 
to practice his profession and the peo¬ 
ple of Memphis are to be congratulated 
because a young physician so well pre¬ 
pared for his profession has settled in 
their midst. 

EDWARD R. YATES 
| Contracting Brick Mason. ? 
| 814 Michigan Ave., Memphis i 

4 • 

Mr. Yates is one of the leading brick 
contractors of Memphis and his connec¬ 
tion with a job as contractor is suffi¬ 
cient guarantee that the work will be 
thoroughly done. He has constructed 
many substantial buildings in Memphis 
and each one is a monument to his abil¬ 
ity. The massive brick building located 
in Park place on Beale avenue, the prop¬ 
erty of Mr. R. R. Church, was erected 
by Mr. Yates. This building is an ex¬ 
cellent type of his work. 

JAMES H. CARTER. 

The subject of this sketch is a mem¬ 
ber of a large family of hustling and 
enterprising men. He has been identi¬ 
fied in various capacities with the city 
of Memphis for many years, and has 
always been classed as one of its best 
citizens. For years he has been one 
of the leading hucksters of Memphis, 
and by his enterprise, honesty and thrift 
he accumulated considerable property. 
He is a gentleman of whom the com¬ 
munity may well be proud, and a man 
whose integrity cannot be questioned. 
His word is a guarantee of the faithful 
performance of every trust. To his 
friends he is ever devoted and true, and 
he is in every respect a worthy and hon¬ 
orable citizen. 

REV. T. HUTCHINS. 

The worthy head of this sketch is a 
young man of versatile parts, being the 
senior member of the well-known tailor¬ 
ing firm of Coleman & Hutchins, and 
also a promising young minister. He 
is noted for the uprightness and piety 



REV. T. HUTCHINS 


of his life and his efforts along the line 
of Christianity, both in church and in 
Sunday school work have been an in¬ 
spiration and blessing to the community. 
No other young man has done more for 
the cause of Christian effort in this 
community than he. Early in life he 
consecrated himself to Christian useful¬ 
ness and has been steadfast and earnest 
in his Christian life. 

SAMUEL J. WOODS, JR. 

One of the most efficient carriers con¬ 
nected with the post office department 
of Memphis is Mr. Samuel J. Woods, Jr., 
who was born and reared in Yazoo City, 
Miss., and educated in her public 
schools. Before completing his educa¬ 
tion he connected himself with the 
Yazoo Weekly Message in the capacity 
of reporter, and made an enviable repu¬ 
tation as a newspaper man. For two 
years he worked as reporter for this ex¬ 
cellent journal until Rev. James E. 
Mitchell, of Bentonia, Miss., took charge 
of it and finally closed the office. For 






THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


293 



SAMUEL J. WOODS, JR 


294 


THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MEMPHIS. 


twelve months subsequently lie was as¬ 
sociated with the Yazoo Lexington Post, 
a weekly publication edited and owned 
by Mr. P. J. Scott. He then terminated 
his career in journalism and took up 
the carpenter’s trade under his father, 
and worked for four years, and then 
he served another four years under a 
master mechanic in the person of N. 
E. Gibbs, Sr., and became one of the 
most skilled artisans in the state of 
Mississippi. While working at his 
trade as foreman for contractor N. E. 
Gibbs, Jr., he took the civil service ex¬ 
amination in February, 1905, success¬ 
fully passed the same and was appoint¬ 
ed a carrier in the post office depart¬ 
ment of Memphis, in which capacity he 
is serving with credit. Mr. Woods is 
prominently identified in fraternity 
work, being a Knight of Pythias and a 
Mason of high degree. He is an excel¬ 
lent young man with a bright future 
and has favorably impressed the people 
of this community. 

REV. JOHN H. BELL. 

The author is gratified beyond the 
power of expression to write these few 
words of appreciation and regard for 
a life-long acquaintance and friend—the 
worthy and honorable subject of this 
sketch. Rev. Bell for thirty years has 
been connected with the ministry of the 
C. M. E. Church, and in this capacity 
he has done untold good and added 
many stars to his crown. Early in life 
he gave himself to the Master to be 
used as the Master might direct; and 
though now a veteran in Christian serv¬ 
ice he is none the less enthusiastic in 
the performance of his duties than he 
was when he first consecrated himself 
to this great calling. His residence is 
in Memphis, though his work is else¬ 
where in Tennessee. He has a sub¬ 
stantial home in Klondike and much to 
show for the blessings bestowed upon 
him. He has always been a patron of 


education and has given all of his chil¬ 
dren the best educational advantages. 
They are members of the Alumni Asso¬ 
ciations of Kortrecht High School, Mem¬ 
phis, Tenn., and Lane College, Jackson, 
Tenn. Rev. Bell is a man that has been 
faithful to the best interests of his race 
and has done much to elevate and up¬ 
lift it. 


: 


4 ’ 


ROBERT ROSS. 

Head Rigger of Gulf Compress 
Co. for Twenty Years. 

Traveling Representative Artisan 
of this Company. 

Expert Engineer of over Thirty 
Years’ Experience. 

Only Colored Locomotive Engi¬ 
neer for Short Period of 
Time. 

High Class Mechanic and High- 
Class Citizen. 




METROPOLITAN BAPTIST 
CHURCH 



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